New principal named for East Alex. Middle School
East Alexander Middle School’s new principal, Lee Swanson, is shown here in the Falcon’s Nest — er, Principal’s Office.
By ANGELA FARR KING
Mr. Lee Swanson is new to East Alexander Middle School, but not new to Alexander County Schools. He has spent the last year and a half as an Assistant Principal at Alexander Central High School. Mr. Swanson took the helm at EAMS on Monday, November 18, and he radiates enthusiasm for his new role.
Swanson received his teaching degree from UNC-Charlotte, and taught U.S. History for approximately eight years at Bunker Hill High School. Prior to that, he taught U.S. History, Civics and Economics at South Caldwell High School for seven years. He completed his Masters in Educational Leadership Degree from Queens University in Charlotte this Fall. He also coached basketball for 15 years. He and his wife, Tara, who is the receptionist at Granite Falls Middle School, have one daughter, Reagan, age 8. His wealth of experience as a classroom teacher and coach will be a tremendous benefit to him as an administrator.
Swanson talked about working with and learning from the excellent administrative team assembled at Alexander Central High School, including Principal Jacob Lail and Assistant Principals Ed Wills and Kelly Brantley. He said he learned that as an administrator, “you have to think through your decisions. You must be collaborative. You must examine the structures you have in place to support student achievement.”
Swanson plans to be very visible on the East campus. He will be in the cafeteria, at the car rider line, and in classrooms. One of his greatest strengths and something he loves to do is build relationships with students. When asked what his goals for EAMS are, he said the following: “I want to create a collaborative work environment. We won’t define all of our success by test scores, but obviously we want to make growth (on state required tests). We want to improve our Teacher Working Conditions Surveys. We want to improve morale and culture and we need to simplify some things.”
Swanson definitely believes in the servant leadership model and said he has stripped floors, driven buses, and done just about every job there is in a school. When working in Jay Billis’ basketball camp years ago, he heard the following quote, “If serving is beneath you, then leadership may be above you.” This actual quote may be attributed to Bishop Dale Bronner, who originally said, “If serving is below you, then leadership may be beyond you.”
Swanson is ready for East Alexander Middle School to begin to “tell their own story.” He says “he doesn’t have to be right, but they, as a school, have to get it right.” He brings a high level of energy to the leadership role at East and he plans to be a servant leader who works with his staff.
