Braintree High Headmaster and Longtime Educator David Swanton to Retire

Calling him a "tremendous" educator and a "tireless advocate" for , officials at Monday night's School Committee meeting said headmaster David Swanton will be missed after more than three decades of service when he retires next August.

His retirement was announced by Superintendent Dr. Peter Kurzberg, who said that Swanton, not present at the meeting, would likely convene with the committee later in the academic year. Swanton has been with the school system for 32 years, as a special needs teacher, coach, alternative programs director, housemaster and finally, since 2005, as the headmaster.

"He has provided excellent leadership," Kurzberg said. "He's put his heart and soul into Braintree High School."

Swanton began his service to the Town of Braintree back in 1976, when as a student at Bridgewater State he was hired by then parks department superintendent Bill Hedlund, according to an account in the Patriot Ledger. He went on to create an alternative program for troubled students at BHS and also coached the Stonehill College football team to the 1991 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference championship.

Mayor Joseph Sullivan said that Swanton's sense of purpose drove him to improve the high school and embrace new ideas. He brought emotion into his daily work life, and showed school spirit every time he spoke to the School Committee, Sullivan said.

"I think emotion can carry you sometimes," the mayor said. "He talked with great passion, conviction and devotion."

Swanton will be tough to replace, Kurzberg said, but the school department will take a crack at it starting soon, with advertisements for the position and then a formal search committee after the first of the year. The group will consist of parents, teachers, administrators and student representatives, and will have a goal of finding someone by the end of the academic year, leaving time for transition before Swanton steps down in August 2012.

It will be a "wonderful opportunity" for someone from inside or outside the district, Kurzberg said. "We're looking forward to vetting candidates."

Committee member Joe Zarrella, who among members was most recently a student at BHS, said Swanton has been a great role model.

During his four years, Zarrella said, Swanton "truly did live his trademarked 'PRIDE'."