WASA Executive Director Joel Aune, above left, presented Adam Swinyard with the Superintendent of the Year award for the state of Washington.
Spokane Public Schools’ Adam Swinyard Med ’08, EdD ‘15 was named 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators.
The award recognizes the outstanding leadership of active, front-line superintendents and pays tribute to those who lead Washington’s public schools.
“Dr. Swinyard is a champion for equity, as he brings a consistent and unwavering commitment to achieving more equitable outcomes for all students in the Spokane Public Schools,” said WASA Executive Director Joel Aune.
“We congratulate Adam and the entire Spokane school community on this well-deserved honor,” Aune said.
Spokane Public Schools is the third largest district in Washington state, with 56 schools, 30,000 students in grades K-12, and more than 5,000 staff members.
The district set a record graduation rate of 90.2% last year. And since 2018, the district expanded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program from 70 seats to more than 600 seats.
Swinyard joined the Spokane School District in 2013 as a principal of Sacajawea Middle School before becoming the district’s associate superintendent for teaching and learning and director of secondary schools.
Swinyard received a master of education degree (MEd) as well as his doctorate in Executive Leadership from Seattle Pacific University.
This past spring, Swinyard was recognized for his leadership by the Washington School Public Relations Association with its Crystal Apple Award. He was also a recipient of the AWSP Regional Principal of the Year in 2015.
SPU utilizes current research and best practices in its 24-month program for a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. Find out how you can earn a master’s degree or a doctorate in education at Seattle Pacific.
