Dear Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District Families and Community Members,

I am humbled by and grateful for this opportunity to serve this fine community. It is my continuous goal to lead with passion and dedication, forever motivated to optimize the academic, social and emotional growth of every student in our care.

With a deeply held belief in serving the greater good, my professional life has been entirely devoted to the field of education. For the first fifteen years of my career, I served as a classroom teacher and counselor, before transitioning to an administrative role these past seven years. I received my bachelors degree from Arizona State University (Go Devils!), my masters degree from Oakland University, and my doctorate in Education Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

After completing my original degree with ASU I moved back to my home state of Michigan to marry my high school sweetheart and begin raising a family. There we had two beautiful girls before loading up the family wagoneer and heading back west for Arizona in 2011. Once here our youngest daughter was born, completing our family of five. Our nights and weekends are filled with softball, swimming and more – busy, but good busy, watching our girls do what they love.

When not in the stands cheering on our daughters, I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, reading, and visiting our national parks whenever possible.

As the superintendent of SOCUSD, I view this position as yet another opportunity to inspire the hearts and minds of fellow educators and those we serve. I feel incredibly blessed with the prospect of getting to know and working alongside our SOCUSD students, staff, families and community members for many years to come. Thank you for allowing me this privilege.

Yours in Education,

Tom Swaninger, Ed.D.