7-12 Principal's Corner: Jim Swegarden

Hello, I am Jim Swegarden, the 7 - 12 Principal at Glenburn Schools. I am extremely excited and feel very privileged to be here.

I have spent the last 24 years working with kids in a variety of roles.  Prior to coming to Glenburn, I served as the Secondary Principal at Stanley High School from 2013-2019 where in 2019 I was honored to receive the Region 1 Principal of the Year award. Before that I was employed for 18 years at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch on the Minot campus where for the first 10 years I worked in the residential setting and then moved to Dakota Memorial School (on campus) where I was the Day Program Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and Principal. I grew up in an education family, in North Dakota, where both my parents were teachers, three of my four brothers were, or are, teachers, and three of my four sister-in-laws were either teachers, or speech pathologists working in schools with students. Along with that I was a high school football coach in Surrey, Hazen, Lewis and Clark/Our Redeemers, and a wrestling coach in Beulah.  I am a husband to my wife of 24 years, Tara, who is a Safety Coordinator for Whiting Oil and Gas, and we have two wonderful grown children, Jara (25), who is pursuing a nursing degree and Noah (18) who graduated last year from Bishop Ryan and is continuing his education and activity at Itasca Community College where he will wrestle and pursue a degree in education. I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, a fan of USA Wrestling, and one of my most enjoyable times is when I am on my Harley.

With all that said, I just want to share with you my philosophy of education. I believe that schools now have the responsibility to prepare students socially, emotionally, academically, and sometimes, even spiritually. How we do this is varied but through numerous opportunities working with such a variety of students and incredible peers and staffs,  I have found that the absolute, number one, without a doubt, thing to help students succeed in all the previous areas mentioned is to develop a trusting, honest, open, and caring relationship with those students. In addition, communicating routinely with those students and letting them know you care for, and about them, and their well-being, future, and day to day decisions is an absolute must! Schools are the beginning and steppingstone into adulthood and what we do here will be essential to after school success.

I am here for you and your children. I welcome your questions, feedback, inquiries, and help. Please do not hesitate to contact me. My email is: Jim.Swegarden@k12.nd.us and of course calling the school (701-362-7426) is always an option. I am so thankful for this opportunity and thank you for entrusting me/us with your most valued, your children.