WINNSBORO – The National Association of Secondary School Principals announced that Fairfield Central’s Dr. Tracie Swilley has been named one of three finalists for the 2025 National Principal of the Year award.
Also named are Andrew Rebello, former principal at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, Fall River, MA, and Jon Wilcox, principal of Petoskey Middle School, Petoskey, MI.
According to a press release from NASSP, these finalists emerged as visionaries reshaping education through innovative leadership and an unwavering commitment to student success.
“These exceptional finalists exemplify the transformative power of visionary school leadership,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “They’ve created vibrant learning environments where innovation flourishes, data drives decision-making, and every student is empowered to reach their full potential. Their ability to cultivate leadership at all levels … is truly inspiring and sets a new standard for what’s possible in our schools.”
According to a NASSP spokesperson, as principal of Fairfield Central High School, Swilley has supported the promotion of many of her assistant principals to the principalship, and she has promoted teachers within her building to the role of assistant principal. She has also mentored principals throughout the state. She believes that everyone can achieve with proper assistance and support and uses data to guide her faculty and staff in best practices to improve student outcomes.
Recently named SC Principal of the Year, Swilley has earned a reputation for developing positive relationships with students, parents, and her community.
“The entire district is incredibly proud of her for this well-deserved recognition,” FCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony Hemingway told The Voice. “Dr. Swilley’s focus on positive student outcomes and her exceptional instructional leadership have made a lasting impact on Fairfield Central High School. She has been a visionary leader not only within our district but also across the state, and being recognized as a national leader emphasizes her dedication and excellence as an educator.”
“Dr. Swilley works with her teachers to build an environment that encourages cooperation and personal growth—providing her faculty with an empowering atmosphere to better serve their students, “said Beth Phibbs, former executive director of the SC Association of School Administrators.