After several months, the East Haven Board of Education has hired Interim Superintendent Adam Swinney as the official superintendent. Mr. Swinney has been serving as Interim Superintendent since September but will be appointed as Superintendent on July 1, 2026. As Mr. Swinney navigates his new role, he uses his previous experience (read more in our previous article) to make sure that he is engaged with the community, builds trust with students, staff, and families, and makes sure all students feel a sense of belonging in the East Haven community.
Mr. Swinney’s overall vision for EHPS is to ensure that aside from the academics, “every member of our learning community feels a sense of belonging. And that by the end of the year, we have collaborated on a clear definition of high quality education/instruction.” One way he plans on leveling up education throughout EHPS is through the math programs. Mr Swinney mentions that math can be a “gatekeeper” to students’ opportunities. Since many students struggle with math, he plans to focus on the younger students to ensure that they develop all the basic skills and fundamentals needed.
Three goals that Superintendent Swinney hopes to achieve during his first official year of superintendency are to ensure everyone has a voice when it comes to a policy or program, that we continue to involve students in important and high quality classes, and that we improve student attendance.
Mr. Swinney also prioritizes the mental health and wellness of all students since students’ mental health and well-being can impact things like attendance and grades. He says, “I think mental health shows up in a lot of different areas, like I think it shows up in our attendance. It shows up in student engagement with their learning. It shows up in how we rally around [each other] through moments of crisis or need. And so it’s important that we take that reflective stance, so that we’re always thinking about how we can do better.”
Overall, Superintendent Swinney’s biggest priority for EHPS and the community within is to ensure that all relationships between teachers, students, administrators, substitutes, and paras all feel seen and know that their work is valued. He shared, “It’s a balance. And I think that when we work together in that space, with students at the center, I think that makes a really positive learning environment.” He believes that our students’ sense of belonging is important for them to feel like they are part of the community. He believes if they don’t feel that baseline connection, it will impact every aspect of their learning.
