1. Tell us about yourself: Christy Swan. I completed Principal Certification in 2016
  2. What are you doing now?: Assistant Principal of Chester and Ponderosa Elementary in Central Valley School District
  3. Why did you choose a program in the School of Education at Gonzaga? Not only does Gonzaga have a stellar reputation for education, it also met my needs for earning my certificate while teaching and completing an internship. The pace of the program was ideal, allowing me to finish my work in a year.
  4. What influenced you the most during your time at Gonzaga? Dr. Cynthia Johnson had a huge impact on my work. She pushed my thinking and offered experiences that challenged me while also helping to develop my confidence in school leadership.  Cindy was supportive, encouraging, and without a doubt an advocate for all in the program.  It was, and still is, her main focus that all candidates leave ready to enter the field of school leadership and do so with passion and excitement. 
  5. What was your greatest lesson learned at Gonzaga? The greatest lesson I learned at Gonzaga was the power of a cohort. I believe working through the program with others was pivotal in helping me feel supported and engaged.  We were all able to share experiences, grow one another’s thinking, and celebrate our successes.
  6. What is the most rewarding aspect of working in your field? Most challenging? Hands down, the most rewarding part of working in my field is serving others. It is my “why.”  My purpose for coming to work each day is to serve those around me and to ensure that their needs are met.  I am lucky enough to work with amazing students, teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, and community members. The most challenging part of my job is there are not nearly enough hours in the day to do all I believe is necessary to fulfill my role. With that challenge, I have learned to balance my time prioritize my “to do” and enjoy the ride!
  7. What critical issues do you see that need to be addressed in your field? A critical issue I believe that needs to be addressed in education is the mental health of students. We serve many students of complex trauma and other outside factors that need support.  Currently, we are limited in all that we can do to help these young kids. 
  8. What advice do you have for future education professionals? Make sure you know your “why.” It guides you in all that you do.