My name is Mrs. Suzanne L. Herr. As Principal of Swift Middle School, let me welcome you to our school's administrative website. Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. I came to Swift as a classroom teacher in 1985 where I taught Developmental Reading and sixth grade Block. Over the years, I worked exclusively in the sixth grade Block until I acquired my Principal's Certification and was asked to be the acting principal at Quarryville Elementary for a year. The following year, I came back to Swift as Principal, when the previous administrator left. I have been the chief administrator at Swift since 1996.

  I first started teaching in 1972 in the Penn Manor School District as a fourth and fifth grade teacher. In 1975 I left the classroom to raise my two children, Katie and Elizabeth. During the ten years I was out of the classroom, I kept current in the educational field by periodically substitute teaching in many local districts. Currently, my husband and I reside just over the Solanco line in the Penn Manor School District. Both of our daughters are grown and no longer live at home. Katie is married and is a first and second grade teacher at Clermont Elementary. She and her husband are the proud parents of a son, my first grandchild. Elizabeth lives in Gettysburg, PA and is a Major Gifts Officer for the Shippensburg University Foundation. 

  My philosophy as a principal is based on a belief that middle level education is a unique and developmentally aligned set of experiences which allow students to learn about themselves, their strengths and interests in an environment of safety and acceptance. Student learning is encouraged through activities and experiences which focus on content areas, social skills, and individual needs. I believe that every child can learn, and every child can be successful. To that end, we at middle level differentiate instruction and classroom experiences to meet the needs of every student, regardless of their ability and background.

Our teachers are a dedicated and talented group of child centered people who are constantly refining the strategies and tools they use in the delivery of the highest quality of instruction to all our students.  When asked what they teach, a common answer is…”I teach children.”  Content is important and our curriculum is aligned with the PA State Standards and is delivered through the Best Practice strategies of the Learning Focused Schools model of Instruction.  Equally important are the social skills and emotional needs of our middle school students.  We strive to make learning meaningful, challenging and fun.  We provide a variety of experiences to encourage growth in all facets of pre-adolescent development. 

Thank you for visiting the Swift web page. Be sure to check out the other links on the Principal's Page, and don't forget to take a look at the team and teacher sites and links on the Moodle link to the right of the screen.  Feel free to check back now and again for updates on events and activities at Swift.

email me at suzanne_herr@solanco.k12.pa.us

updated 9/29/2008