Clovis West principal unexpectedly steps down. What are plans for his replacement?
Clovis West principal Eric Swain “requested” that the school district allow him to step down from the school’s leadership.
Swain did not preside over the 2024 graduation ceremony, as expected, on Wednesday night. It’s unclear if he attended. Deputy principal Jason James led the ceremony.
On Thursday, the district told school staff that Swain “requested” he no longer be principal, said Kelly Avants, spokesperson for Clovis Unified School District. However, Swain does remain a district employee, she said.
“The process to identify a new principal of the school is now underway, and we expect to complete that process by the end of the month,” Avants said. “Our principal pools – from which candidates would be considered for the role – are open to internal and external candidates.”
The district said it was Swain’s choice to step down from the role, but did not provide details on what informed his decision.
Neither the district nor Swain responded to questions about his presence or absence at Wednesday night’s graduation at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium or about when Swain joined Clovis West and became principal.
Avants said that Swain, who served as principal for three years, requested to be reassigned as a classroom teacher.
“We are working with him to identify a teaching spot,” she said. “Given this is a new development, the actual location of that teaching position hasn’t been determined yet.”
In 2015, Swain became Fresno City College’s athletic director. The Rampage, the college’s student newspaper, reported that Swain worked at Clovis Unified for a decade and more than 20 years of coaching and teaching experience.
The Rampage further profiled Swain in 2016, reporting he earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies from the University of Nevada-Reno and a master’s in education – including a teaching credential – like other educators and coaches in his family had.
Before joining FCC, Swain was head coach of the boys’ basketball program at Buchanan for seven years before becoming Clovis North High School’s athletic director, according to the Rampage’s profile.
Swain let FCC in 2017, two years into the job, and returned to Clovis Unified as the district’s athletic director, The Rampage reported.
The Bee called and emailed Swain on Friday morning, and received no response by the publishing time of this article.
This story was originally published June 7, 2024 at 12:25 PM.