1983 Abington Senior High School Grad Tapped As Next Principal

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — An Abington High School alum has been tapped to lead her alma mater, according to the Abington School District.

At Tuesday's Board of School Directors meeting, Dr. Alice L. Swift was appointed as the next Principal of Abington Senior High School. Her anticipated start date is Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

Swift is a 1983 graduate of Abington Senior High School.

Before joining the district, she spent 10 years as a high school principal in Prince George's County Public Schools in Largo, Maryland. She also started her career as a high school English teacher there. Her tenure in that district also included serving as an Assistant Principal and as a Testing and Instruction Coordinator.

Swift has been the Director of Safe and Orderly Schools for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Annapolis, Maryland, where she also serves as the Deputy Coordinator of Title IX.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, and her master’s degree from Trinity University. She also has a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland.

"We are very excited to welcome Dr. Swift back to Abington, with her anticipated start date being Tuesday, January 30, 2024, just as the second semester gets underway," Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Fecher said in an email to Abington School District families.

Swift was identified through a rigorous national search process, conducted by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, and was evaluated by a selection committee of more than 20 stakeholders, including students, parents/guardians, faculty, staff and administrators.

She replaces former principal Angelo Berrios, who left the role in October to become the Superintendent of an area school district. Since that time, Susan McCarthy, a retired high school principal who served in her previous role for more than 20 years, was appointed to serve as Interim Principal of the high school. McCarthy will continue to serve as Interim Principal until Jan. 30, 2024, and will work with Swift to ensure the shift in leadership goes as smoothly as possible.

A meet-and-greet event with Swift and District families will be scheduled for an evening in January, before she starts her new position. She will also have an opportunity to introduce herself to Senior High teachers and staff during a December faculty meeting.