The Spokane Public Schools board of directors named Dr. Adam Swinyard superintendent in the summer of 2020. In his role as superintendent for one of the state’s largest school districts, Dr. Swinyard is tasked with implementing the district’s vision, goals and policies.
Dr. Swinyard previously served as the district’s associate superintendent for teaching and learning and director of secondary schools.
A native of Deer Park, Wash., Dr. Swinyard earned his B.A. in secondary education from Northwest University. He earned his M.Ed, Ed.D in executive leadership, and Washington State Principal and Superintendent credentials from Seattle Pacific University. In 2016, Dr. Swinyard received the Research on Superintendency Dissertation of the Year Award from the American Educational Research Association.
Prior to working in district administration, Dr. Swinyard was the principal at Sacajawea Middle School in Spokane from 2013 – 2016. In that role, he was twice nominated for the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) Washington State Middle School Principal of the Year Award. He was an AWSP Regional Principal of the Year winner in 2015.
Prior to his time leading Sacajawea, Dr. Swinyard was an assistant principal at Cheney High School in Cheney, Wash., and principal assistant at Garry Middle School in Spokane.
Dr. Swinyard has teaching experience in health and fitness, language arts and social studies in western Washington school districts that include Glacier Peak High School in the Snohomish School District, and McAuliffe Elementary School in Redmond.
Dr. Swinyard and his wife have three children.
Past AASA Washington Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2022 Washington Superintendent of the Year: Susan Enfield
2021 Washington Superintendent of the Year: Michelle Reid
About the Award:
The Superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State-level winners are selected on the following criteria:
-
- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement