The National Association of Secondary School Principals’ 2025 National Principal of the Year was announced in October in coordination with National Principals Month.
Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley was a distinguished guest at the annual State Principal of the Year conference in Washington, D.C. and received a crystal award. Swilley was accompanied by her sister at the gala.
>>WATCH: Dr. Swilley’s speech after receiving the 2025 National Principal of the Year Award
Learn more about Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley below.
2025 National Principal of the Year
Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley
Fairfield Central High School
Winnsboro, SC
As principal of Fairfield Central High School, Dr. 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.
Swilley was chosen as NASSP’s National Principal of the Year from among three finalists.
>> NASSP’s 2025 Principal of the Year Finalists
“Tracie is the real deal,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “Her leadership has shaped Fairfield Central into a model of learning. Her approach to cultivating future leaders and fostering high expectations is exactly what we need more of in education. Tracie’s influence extends far beyond Fairfield Central, demonstrating how principals can transform communities through their dedication and expertise.”
Under Swilley’s leadership, Fairfield Central High School has seen remarkable progress: math proficiency for Black students rose from 46% to 74%, reading proficiency improved from 60% to 76%, and the graduation rate reached a record 90.1%. Eighty- one percent of the class of 2024 were accepted into higher education institutions, despite 100% of students being eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
Her initiatives include Griffin Pride to combat negative perceptions, telehealth for students, and extra bus routes for equitable participation in extracurriculars.
>>Read: SC Principal Transformed Struggling School
As the 2025 National Principal of the Year, Anderson Swilley will connect with principals across the country, participating in speaking engagements at educational conferences and using her platform to highlight the challenges and needs of the principalship.
Swilley told Education Week that she plans to advocate for improved recruitment of women of color, like herself, into leadership roles, and to bring attention to the unique obstacles they face in education. Through her advocacy, she hopes to inspire systemic changes that will foster more inclusive leadership pathways.
NASSP will expand its program in 2025 to honor both middle and high school leaders. Two national winners will be named in July 2025 as NASSP’s National Middle School and National High School Principals 2025-26.
>>Learn more about NASSP’s Principal of the Year program
