Mr. Adam Swinney transitioned to his new position as EHPS assistant superintendent just a few weeks ago after working for the past few years at Momauguin Elementary School. However, this time around, there is not just one assistant; there are two. Alongside Mrs. Lisa Veleas, the previous English Instructional Leader, this pair has now worked together to better the district and create a curriculum that encourages rigor and challenges while still preparing students for life after high school. Working alongside Mrs. Lisa Veleas, his main focus will be with K–5 students and teachers, but he will also work collaboratively to solve issues at a district level and understand the influence of things on a school-wide level.
Mr. Swinney grew up in a very small town in Indiana named Holton, with a population of 421 in 2022. He graduated from South Ripley Jr. High School and attended the University of Evansville for secondary English, focusing on middle school endorsement.
Growing up, Mr. Swinney first worked at his family’s farm and eventually started a summer program at his local library. This is where he first learned that he really enjoyed the work of education and teaching others. At 21, he moved to work at Chicago Public Schools, working specifically in high school English. Eventually, he moved to work at a Seattle middle school for 7th and 8th grade humanities, where he also went back to school to get a masters in instructional leadership. Then he became the Dean of Students overseeing discipline. After that, he became the principal of a middle school in California at the start of the pandemic. Most recently, he worked as the principal of Momauguin Elementary School in East Haven before taking on his current role.
With all of these previous job experiences, he has found that it was a hard decision to leave his previous role as principal, as he really loved the learning community at Momauguin Elementary School. However, he believed there was an opportunity to better support professional learning and connections for educators across the district through the assistant superintendent role. He feels it’s important for adults in the education system to have the same conditions of connection, collaboration, and mutual respect that benefit students. He saw it as his responsibility in this new office to help set those conditions by supporting ongoing professional learning.
Mr. Swinney hopes to bring a focus on professional learning and growth for all educators in the district through this new role. Specifically, he wants to ensure structural supports are in place for deep, ongoing professional learning so everyone can continue growing as a learner focused on their own growth and that of others. He wants to stay current on promising practices in education and make sure new initiatives are implemented coherently and sustainably while buffering new demands. Also, he wants to create opportunities for collaboration and connection between educators so they feel a sense of belonging and inclusion in their work, as this supports student learning and engagement. Lastly, he wants to look at education through a “wraparound holistic” lens that considers the social-emotional needs of both students and staff. Essentially, he aims to cultivate an environment where all members of the school community feel supported as lifelong learners.
He mentioned a few strengths he felt he gained from his previous role as principal at Momauguin Elementary School that will help him in his new assistant superintendent role. These include learning about effective instructional strategies and practices for elementary-aged students, understanding the importance of connection and belonging for student learning, experiencing collaboration across a smaller district or school community, and developing the ability to listen and adapt to new contexts based on their experiences in different school systems and locations. These strengths will allow him to further fit in with the district while creating a new perspective to help better the district.
According to Superintendent Erica Forti, some of Mr. Swinney’s key strengths that were shown in the interview process include his innate ability to build relationships with people from a place of support and trust. This allows individuals to feel comfortable being vulnerable, which can help foster change and growth in an organization. Mrs. Forti also praised his experience and leadership skills from his previous role as principal. According to Mrs. Veleas, Mr. Swinney brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, particularly regarding the elementary schools and K–5 curriculum, drawing from his experience as a former elementary principal. His familiarity with all the East Haven teachers at K–5 schools further enhances his understanding of the educational environment. Additionally, his background as both an elementary and middle school principal provides valuable perspectives that complement Mrs. Veleas’s 6–12 experience. Mr. Swinney’s input was instrumental in planning a professional development day that effectively addresses the needs of teachers across different school levels. Moreover, he has been thoughtful in rolling out the new teacher evaluation process, carefully considering the varying needs and sensitivities of teachers at different educational stages.
According to Mrs. Forti, Mr. Swinney has “hit the ground running” in his new role as assistant superintendent. As a former principal, he was already involved in district-level work like professional development planning. Mrs. Forti notes he has been able to slip into his new role at the district level more easily due to his existing knowledge of the organization from working inside it previously. However, she also acknowledges it will take some time for them to get into a groove working together as a new trio. Mrs. Veleas felt that Mr. Swinney has adjusted well to his new role as assistant superintendent, hitting the ground running and working hard on projects seamlessly. However, Mrs. Veleas also noted that they both still feel like they’re living in two worlds as they try to wrap up unfinished work and responsibilities from their previous roles by the end of the school year. She is confident in the strong replacements they left in their previous roles and felt Mr. Swinney keeps his cool and plows through his transition effectively.
Mrs. Forti says she hopes to see Mr. Swinney and Mrs. Veleas continue to grow as leaders in their new roles, which require more of a “balcony view” at the district level compared to their previous school-level positions. She also wants to see them continue being passionate about their work and focused on what’s best for students. Overall, Mrs. Forti expresses confidence that they can succeed in their positions and that the district is in great hands under their leadership.
The Comet wishes Mr. Swinney luck with his new role, and cannot wait to see the success that he can bring alongside Mrs. Veleas.
