South Carolina principal named National Principal of the Year

Amid National Principals Month, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) announced that Tracie Anderson Swilley, principal of Fairfield Central High School in the Fairfield County School District, is the 2025 NASSP National Principal of the Year. Dr. Swilley was selected to represent South Carolina as the 2024 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year through the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) awards program.

Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley is South Carolina’s fifth NASSP National Principal of the Year. For three of the last eight years, a South Carolina principal has been recognized as NASSP National Principal of the Year.

Dr. Swilley commented in her acceptance speech, “This award is not just a reflection of my work, but a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and shared purpose.” Dr. Swilley continued, “I am proud of the progress we have made, and it’s only just begun. This honor belongs to us all. To the leaders everywhere, remember this, leadership is not about a title, but about service. It’s about putting students at the center of everything we do, and never losing sight of the power that education has to change lives. I promise to hear you and use this platform to speak with and speak for you, and public education. Thank you for this incredible recognition.”

“We are beyond thrilled to celebrate Dr. Tracie Swilley on being named the National Secondary Principal of the Year!” Fairfield County School District Superintendent Dr. Tony Hemingway said shortly after Swilley received the honor. “This is an incredible honor, and it is a true testament to her tireless dedication, visionary leadership, and commitment to the students of Fairfield County School District. Dr. Swilley has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure positive academic and social outcomes, creating an environment where every student can thrive. Her impact on our district is immeasurable, and we are so fortunate to have her as an instructional leader, mentor, and advocate for excellence,” Dr. Hemingway said.

“Dr. Tracie Swilley exemplifies transformational leadership in action,” said SCASA Executive Director Dr. Quincie Moore. “Her ability to create a culture where every student believes they can succeed has led to remarkable achievements, including six consecutive graduating classes with several students earning associate degrees before their high school diplomas. Through her focus on academic excellence, she has shown that with the right leadership, every student can thrive. This honor is also a testament to the strength of South Carolina’s school leaders—Dr. Swilley is our state’s fifth National Principal of the Year since 2002 and third since 2018.”

“Tracie is the real deal,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “Tracie’s leadership has shaped Fairfield Central into a model of learning. Her approach to cultivating future leaders and fostering a culture of high expectations is exactly what we need more of in education. Tracie’s influence extends far beyond the walls of Fairfield Central, demonstrating the power of the principal to transform entire communities through their dedication and expertise.”

Under Dr. Swilley’s leadership, Fairfield Central High School has seen remarkable improvements:

• Among Black students, who make up 88% of the student body, math proficiency rates rose from 46% to 74%, and reading proficiency improved from 60% to 76% in the last three years.
• The school has achieved the highest graduation rate in school history at 90.1% after two years of her leadership.
• Eighty-one percent of graduates in the class of 2024 were accepted to two or four-year higher education institutions.

As principal, Dr. Swilley has supported the promotion of many of her assistant principals to the principalship, and she has promoted teachers within her building to the role of assistant principal. She has also mentored principals throughout the state. She believes that everyone can achieve with proper assistance and support and uses data to guide her faculty and staff in best practices to improve student outcomes.

Dr. Swilley’s innovative approaches include:

• creating a school-wide “Griffin Pride” initiative to combat negative perceptions,
• partnering with Eau Claire Cooperative Health to offer telehealth appointments for students, and
• adding buses to transport students home after extracurricular activities, ensuring equitable participation.

The National Principal of the Year announcement came on October 21, 2024, during a gala at NASSP’s Illuminate celebration, bringing together current and former State Principals of the Year to build their advocacy skills and strengthen education in their schools and beyond.

For the NASSP Principal of the Year program, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools, and the Department of Defense Education Activity select one middle level or high school principal to represent their state or department, from whom three finalists are chosen, with one chosen as the National Principal of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding middle level and high school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.

SCASA, the professional organization for school leaders in South Carolina, has more than 5,400 members. From professional development opportunities and research to publications and legislative advocacy, SCASA’s focus is to support school leaders in providing the best possible education for South Carolina’s young people. As a state affiliate of three national associations for school leaders, SCASA also works on the national level.