Dr. Mike Swan has been named assistant superintendent of Burke County Public Schools. The announcement came Monday at the Burke County Board of Education meeting.
Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam said, “Join me in congratulating Dr. Swan as our new assistant superintendent. Dr. Swan comes into the position with 22 years of experience as an educator. He has a vast knowledge of education and leadership and has our students’ needs and their best interests at heart.”
Swan said, “I am excited to serve Burke County Public Schools as assistant superintendent, and I am grateful to Dr. Putnam and the board for giving me this opportunity. Burke County Public Schools is a great school district, and I am honored to work with talented and dedicated educators who put the success of our bright and promising students first. I am looking forward to continuing to help lead our district through the pandemic but also preparing for a return to normal on the other side of it.”
Swan is originally from West Virginia and moved to Burke County in 1998 to teach fifth grade at Chesterfield Elementary School and then Ray Childers Elementary School. He served as assistant principal at Liberty Middle School, Heritage Middle School and Freedom High School before becoming principal at Heritage and later at Freedom. In 2016 he was named Burke County Public Schools director of Student Services.
Swan has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University and a doctorate in education leadership from Western Carolina University.
Swan is married to Sara Swan, an instructional coach for Burke County Public Schools, and has a son, Walt, and a daughter, Hadley. Swan enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and being on the lake.
Swan takes on the role previously held by Dr. David Fonseca, now the superintendent of Martin County Schools.