photo by: Contributed

Jeanice Swift

Updated at 8:07 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7

The Lawrence school board has selected a longtime Michigan educator as interim superintendent, pending board approval Monday.

Jeanice Swift, a former superintendent with Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan, was selected out of three finalists to take on the role.

Swift was selected despite the apparently embattled end to her job in Ann Arbor, where, according to Michigan media reports, she resigned in December 2023 after the school board there had initiated termination proceedings. Swift told the Journal-World that members of the Lawrence school board were aware of this situation.

It’s not entirely clear what led to the resignation, but Lawrence district spokeswoman Julie Boyle told the Journal-World that it was not connected to a “bus incident in Dec. 2020,” though other accounts seem to differ. The “bus incident” refers to an incident in 2020 in which a special needs second-grader was assaulted by a bus aide in the Ann Arbor district, which led to allegations that the incident was not properly addressed and eventually led to a lawsuit, which is ongoing.

When questioned, Swift addressed the incident in an email to the Journal-World:

“Most unfortunately, an incident of child abuse occurred on a bus route in the AAPS in December 2020; the individual who committed this offense, a bus aide who was an employee of the transportation services company, was removed from duty, terminated from employment, charged, adjudicated, and served a jail sentence for the offense.

“I certainly understand that levels of concern rise for all of us when we hear of an incident like this, and I absolutely will continue to speak with anyone with concerns about the steps and protocols in place in our schools to keep students safe.

“I especially understand the level of concern among parents of students with specialized needs, and look forward to opening and continuing conversations with our parents of students with special needs, to listen, to assure of the excellent work in place to serve students, and to address any questions or concerns.

“Members of the Lawrence board are aware of this December 2020 bus situation, publicized with the filing of a lawsuit during the summer of 2023. As this case is an issue of continuing litigation, I am not able to comment more specifically on particular details and allegations; more importantly, this child and family are entitled to their privacy.

“I can clarify matters of fact established in the courts as noted above and the details of merit in this case will be thoroughly tested in court as part of the ongoing litigation process.”

Boyle told the Journal-World that Swift served as superintendent in Ann Arbor for “10.5 years and continued working with the AAPS board through the transition time with their incoming interim superintendent.”

Swift will take the reins in Lawrence on Aug. 30, following the departure of Superintendent Anthony Lewis, who had been with the school district six years and who resigned to take a superintendent position in North Carolina. Swift is expected to serve until July 2025, by which time the board plans to have appointed a new permanent superintendent.

Lewis said in a news release that Swift’s “wealth of experiences” would be invaluable to the district.

“With her background as a teacher, coach, principal, and award-winning district administrator, combined with her unwavering commitment to educational equity and excellence, I am confident she will lead our district to even greater heights,” Lewis said.

Swift has been in education for 36 years, including a 10-year stint as superintendent in Ann Arbor. Before that, she spent 25 years with Colorado Springs School District 11, serving in various administrative roles and as an English and Spanish teacher.

Lawrence school board president Kelly Jones expressed excitement for Swift and the district’s new chapter.

“We are confident that she will prioritize student and family engagement, improve our instructional and curriculum strategies, and advocate for competitive base wages for our teachers and staff,” Jones said in the release.

In response to a question about Swift’s resignation from her last job, Jones did not directly address the resignation, but instead asserted that Swift was “a highly qualified interim superintendent candidate.”

“The board’s initial confidence to select her as Interim Superintendent is rooted not only in her career accomplishments but also in the formal feedback we received from both employee unions and the district leadership team, as well as parents and community members who serve on school board committees,” Jones said. “Since announcing her hire, I received words of congratulations from individuals who worked with Dr. Swift in Ann Arbor Public Schools–including AAPS school board members who praised her as a superintendent.”

Swift had the chance to visit local schools last week during the interview process and to talk with people in the community, including parents and students. Swift said she connected with the enthusiasm to serve students in the district and is looking forward to her work.

“I am excited to begin working alongside this extraordinary team to ensure a successful year for our students,” Swift said.

Pending board approval, Swift will officially begin her employment at the end of this month.

The other two candidates considered were Thomas Ahart, a former superintendent from Des Moines, Iowa, and current Lawrence Deputy Superintendent Larry Englebrick.

Jones invited the community to meet Swift during the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s Kids Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and a meet and greet at 5 p.m. Monday before the board’s 6 p.m. meeting, both at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.