Folsom Cordova Unified School District welcomes some 22,000 students across its campuses
Classrooms were shining, buses were rolling, and excitement was abundant across the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Thursday morning as it ushered in the 2024-25 school year. This year, the district will serve approximately 22,000 students across campuses in Folsom and Rancho Cordova, including some brand-new schools such as Adler Creek Elementary in Folsom.
While many new students started school for the first time, there was also new leadership. Among the new faces was Erik Swanson, who has taken on the role of Folsom Cordova Unified School District superintendent. Swanson welcomed students and teachers at Williamson Elementary School in Rancho Cordova on Thursday morning and will be visiting other campuses as the school year gets underway. It wasn’t his first day on the job, however. He officially took on the role on July 1, replacing longtime Superintendent Sarah Koligian, who announced her retirement at the end of the most recent school year to spend more time with family after decades as an educator.
“I am honored to work with our Board of Trustees in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District,” Swanson said upon accepting the position. “I am excited to join a team that envisions empowering all students to thrive through educational excellence. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on fostering school experiences where every student feels seen, safe, connected, and included. The commitment to excellence in academic and social-emotional programs, as outlined in FCUSD’s mission statement, aligns with my commitment to supporting the conditions in which each student can reach their full potential.”
Last week, Swanson participated in his first ribbon-cutting for FCUSD’s newest school, Alder Creek Elementary School in Folsom Ranch. The school is one of several planned for the future as FCUSD continues to grow. Earlier this year, Swanson was chosen by the district out of 36 candidates, both internal and external.
According to Board President Tim Hooey, Swanson’s selection was based on five key criteria: effective leadership, operational management, visionary and innovative leadership, educational equity, and strong communication and collaboration skills.
“We believe Mr. Swanson will work to create the best environment for all students and staff in FCUSD to thrive,” Hooey said after Swanson was named to the role.
Before accepting his new position, Swanson served as a senior advisor for the Teaching, Learning, and Leading Center at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE). His work focused on leading direct technical assistance to districts across the state. In this role, Swanson supported superintendents and education services teams throughout California to improve equitable learning outcomes for all students. At CCEE, Swanson notably became a Compassionate Systems Master Practitioner from MIT and worked with experts at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, using improvement science in education.
Before joining CCEE, Swanson served as the assistant superintendent of education services in the Stockton Unified School District. He also served as superintendent for St. Hope Public Schools, principal of Monterey Trail High School in the Elk Grove Unified School District, and principal of middle schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District. His accomplishments include completing certification at the National Superintendents Academy in 2018 and serving as a Tier 1 and Tier 2 administrative credentialing coach for the Sacramento County Office of Education.
“I know Erik, and I know well how his leadership in our county over the past two decades has benefited students. He is a tireless, compassionate, and imaginative leader who supports his staff and focuses on excellence for every learner. He is a great match for a district dedicated to providing a world-class education for every student,” said Dave Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools.
Swanson earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, his Master of Arts in Educational Counseling from the University of San Francisco, and has completed all coursework for the Leadership for Educational Equity Program at the University of California, Berkeley. A Sacramento native and a third-generation alumnus of Sacramento High School, Swanson and his wife Frances, a third-grade teacher in the Twin Rivers Unified School District, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary last year. They have two teenage daughters.
In addition to the festivities at various school openings, the Folsom Police Department reminded residents about the opening of schools across the area. The department urged motorists to drive 25 miles per hour or less in all school zones, stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and avoid blocking crosswalks, especially when making right turns. For those taking children to school or picking them up, they advised following all directions for drop-off and pick-up at campuses, stopping for school buses, and being watchful of children as they board and disembark.
