In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, The Swain School prepares to celebrate Dr. Shannan Boyle Schuster’s leadership and welcomes Dr. Armistead Webster.

Schuster’s tenure as Head of School ends in late June, while a new Head of School chapter begins for Swain with Webster July 1.

Following the recommendation of Educators Collaborative, the national consulting firm that guided Swain’s Head of School search, Swain’s Board of Trustees appointed a Transition Committee to coordinate efforts that will ensure the succession of leadership.

Members of the Transition Committee included:

• Scott McClary, Director of Auxiliary Programs and Transition Committee Chairperson

• Megan Franzyshen, Director of Intermediate and Middle Schools

• Karen Mitton, Director of External Relations

• Heather Manning, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

• Lori Schoeneman, Board of Trustees Chairperson

• Greg Scagliotti, Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Chair of the Head of School Search Committee

• Rebecca Cohen Binder, Trustee and Vice Chair of the Head of School Search Committee

• Dr. Armistead Webster, Incoming Head of School

The work of the Transition Committee encompasses coordination of opportunities for Webster and the Swain community to become better acquainted and facilitate Webster’s assimilation into his role as Swain’s new Head of School.

Convened for the first time in mid-April, the Transition Committee was scheduled to meet weekly and continue as needed during the first six months of Webster’s leadership.

Individual and small group virtual meetings have been initiated with a variety of constituents.

As Webster’s schedule allows, he is on a Virtual Listening Tour, attending student, faculty and administrative sessions.

In addition, Schuster, Webster, Schoeneman and Scagliotti have been meeting weekly to plan for the transfer of leadership and the coming school year.