Dr. Joshua Swanner Approved As Asst. Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 is pleased to announce Dr. Joshua Swanner as the district’s new Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction. He will work closely with the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in directing the long-term planning of the educational program and operations of the school system in order to provide for the future educational needs of the community.
Swanner comes to Wilmette from neighboring Winnetka, where he has spent the last seven years as principal of Greeley Elementary School. He was approved by the D39 Board of Education at last night’s Board of Education meeting and will begin his work in District 39 on August 1.
“It is an honor to be selected for this leadership role within the Wilmette Public Schools,” said Swanner. “I am eager to contribute to the continued success of the district, and I am excited to bring my background and experiences to a team that clearly values families, staff members, the larger community, and all facets of the student learning experience.”
Swanner brings 18 years of experience as an educator with him to District 39. He began his professional career in 2006 as a language arts and social studies teacher at Thompson Middle School in St. Charles, Ill. before moving to the North Shore. Swanner served as a middle school teacher at Carleton Washburne School in Winnetka for five years and made the transition to administration in 2015 when he was named Assistant Principal of The Skokie School. He served in that role for two years before accepting the principal job at Greeley in August 2017.
While at Greeley, Swanner collaborated with various stakeholder groups to execute a curriculum review process aligning with literacy instruction and the science of reading. Additionally, he leveraged data tools to inform responsive teaching practices, including implementation of new benchmarking and progress monitoring measures, and collaborated with administrators regarding data review and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) protocols
"I am excited to welcome Joshua to our District 39 curriculum and instruction team,” said Katie Lee, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “With his experience and dedication to educational excellence, he will support D39’s Strategic Plan and bring new ideas that will foster meaningful change.”
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 serves approximately 3,200 students in PreK-8th grade throughout Wilmette and in parts of Glenview. A District 39 education engages, empowers, and inspires its students to lead academically successful, socially responsible, compassionate, and purposeful lives. District 39 is committed to providing a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect and belonging for all students and staff.