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Guam Department of Education Superintendent Erick Swanson said most of the students and parents surveyed feel public schools are safe. The superintendent shared the survey results as part of his Annual State of Public Education Report on Thursday at GDOE’s headquarters in Tiyan. The survey got more than 13,000 respondents, he said. He shared that 67% of students surveyed agree that their schools are safe, while 82% see them as being supportive of learning. Parents are at 80% surpassing the goal of 75%, Swanson said. GDOE also recorded measurable progress in student performance and attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year, he said. The survey results showed significant movement toward and in some cases beyond GDOE’s three-year and five-year strategic goals. “These are too numerous to insert into this presentation, but they are the result of surveys of all of our stakeholders during the course of the school year,” Swanson said. He said the data sample is in excess of 13,000 respondents which is a very significant, solid number to work with. He said the findings reflect year three of the department’s five-year strategic plan implementation. Schools pass inspection Years of deferred maintenance had brought several campuses near collapse, but all GDOE schools have now been certified, inspected, and passed by the Department of Public Health and Social Services. “The schools are certified now and in a cycle of maintenance and reinspection, so that we are never again the former state of disrepair,” Swanson said. He described the process as a community-wide effort that included government agencies, mayors, parents, military volunteers, and local contractors. The 2024-2025 school year opened on time with all students attending their scheduled campuses. Swanson credited the progress to partnerships between educators, families, and local leaders. “All day, the progress we have made is truly the result of an entire community coming together to support children in their education,” he said. “I give credit to our team of professionals, community stakeholders and especially mayors. I also applaud the parents who work with us to go and make things better for our children. I commend all our teachers and administrators, including support staff and auxiliary services, for the relentless dedication and commitment.” Below target While graduation rates have outpaced previous performance levels, Swanson said proficiency in language arts and math remains below target. Principals and leadership teams are analyzing the data and presenting improvement plans. “Principals are also required to present the results of their analysis to the superintendent, to me, with the course of action to challenge performance based on analysis,” Swanson said. He added that schools in the bottom quartile of assessments are being identified for intensive intervention. Swanson shared cohort growth trends showing steady math improvement among early grade levels: third to fourth grade increased from 11% to 13% proficient, fourth to fifth grade rose from 14% to 17%, and sixth to seventh grade improved by 6% in one year. However, performance went down between seventh and eighth grade and remains stagnant in 11th grade math. Swanson also shared that GDOE is nearly at 90% attendance rate which is at 88% so far this year. He added that students with three or more infractions dropped by 3%, nearing the goal of 2%. Swanson closed with a reaffirmation of GDOE’s collective mission. “We are all one crew. There are no passengers on this journey. And by the way, a command change does not mean mission change,” he said. Swanson is set to step down from his position as the head of GDOE on Dec. 31. He made the announcement in mid-June, giving the board months to hire the next superintendent. The Guam Education Board will pick a new superintendent during a special meeting on Nov. 6, barely two months before Swanson’s December exit date. Education board members will have to pick from five applicants deemed qualified to apply: Barbara Adamos, GDOE deputy superintendent for Educational Support and Community LearningErika Cruz, principal of JP Torres Success Academy and former deputy superintendentKenneth Perez, former GDOE deputy superintendentJoe Sanchez, GDOE deputy superintendent for Curriculum and Instructional ImprovementFormer legislative Speaker Judith Won Pat All five candidates have completed the interview process. The superintendent’s contract lasts four years, through 2030, unless the individual resigns or retires early. The search comes as GDOE confronts shrinking budgets, delayed capital improvement projects, aging facilities, teacher shortages, and ongoing learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic.
