BHS Head Carol Swainson To Step Down
The Bermuda High School [BHS] has announced that Head of School Carol Swainson will step down at the end of the academic year due to personal health reasons, with Martina Harris set to serve as interim head.
Lesley Cox and Carol Swainson
Lesley Cox statement:
Lesley Cox, Chair, Board of Trustees, said, “Dear Members of the BHS School Community. We wish to inform you that Ms Carol Swainson has tendered her resignation and will conclude her tenure as Head of School at the end of the current school year. Her wish to leave Bermuda and return to the US was made for personal reasons and, while we will miss her contribution to BHS, we understand and respect her decision.
“During her time at BHS, Ms Swainson has worked tirelessly to support the School’s mission of cultivating a dynamic learning environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, community consciousness, and resilient independence. Her dedication to embracing equity and inclusion in every aspect of student life, her commitment to embedding restorative practices that foster a safer, more respectful environment and her future-forward educational pedagogy, including the opening of “The Rajeev Kapur Centre for AI Leadership” and hosting an inaugural AI summit for students across the Island, will have a lasting impact on BHS.
“The Board of Trustees will initiate a search for a new Head of School. During the interim period, Ms Martina Harris will serve as Interim Head of School for the 2026-2027 academic year. Ms Harris brings continuity and a deep understanding of BHS. A former Head of the Primary Department, she spent 25 years at BHS before taking on her current leadership role at The Reading Clinic. We are grateful to The Reading Clinic, where Ms. Harris continues in her leadership role, for their support in making this possible, and we are confident in Ms Harris’ leadership and commitment to the school’s continued educational excellence.
“BHS is built on a foundation of visionary leadership, a commitment to empowering every student, and a community that has always navigated change with confidence, principles that will continue to carry our community forward. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire school community, we extend our sincere thanks to Ms. Swainson for her service to BHS and wish her every success and happiness in her future endeavours.”
Carol Swainson statement:
Carol Swainson, Head of School, said, “It has been a profound privilege to serve as Head of School at The Bermuda High School. I am writing to share that, for personal health reasons, I need to return to the United States. As a result, I will be leaving BHS at the end of the school year. Leading a school like BHS requires one’s full focus and commitment, and I have come to recognise that I need time to step back, heal, and be fully present with my family.
“Serving this community has been an extraordinary experience. I have been continually inspired by the dedication and care of our teachers, whose commitment to students is evident every day. Our students are remarkable, curious, thoughtful, and full of promise, and it has been a joy to watch them grow and flourish. I am also deeply grateful for the partnership of our Leadership Team, a forward-thinking and talented group of educators and administrators, as well as for the steadfast support of our Board of Trustees.
“I am proud of what we have accomplished together during my time at BHS, particularly how we embraced an ethos of a private school with a public purpose through initiatives such as the Students in Leadership Conference, She Leads, She Thrives, and the AI Summit. The addition of Veracross, the implementation of more equitable practices and processes, and the establishment of structures that have improved consistent care for our physical plant have also helped propel BHS forward. The strength of this community, its people, its values, and its shared commitment to a high-quality educational experience gives me great confidence in the school’s future.
“Thank you for the warmth, dedication, and sense of purpose that defines this exceptional school. It has been an honor to be part of the BHS community, and I will always remain a champion of its mission and its people.”
