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BOURBONNAIS — The new assistant superintendent of Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 is a familiar face.
Shannon Swilley, a former Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center principal, returned to the district as its assistant superintendent starting Jan. 6. The Bourbonnais school board approved his hire Dec. 17.
Swilley replaces former assistant superintendent and curriculum director James Duggan, who retired at the end of 2024.
Swilley will earn an annual salary of $142,000 in his new role.
In his most recent position, Swilley was director of teaching and learning at Hazel Crest School District 152 ½.
He is also a doctoral candidate focused on educational equity at the University of St. Francis.
Prior to coming to Hazel Crest, he worked as an associate principal for Homewood-Flossmoor High School and as a principal for Evergreen Park School District 124.
From 2015 to 2021, Swilley was an associate principal and principal at BUGC.
Superintendent Adam Ehrman said that Swilley’s character as well as his professional skills and background were a match for the district.
“He has been an administrator. He knows the community. He knows our students. He knows some of our staff. He knows some of our admin team,” Ehrman said. “He was a perfect fit, I think, for he and I, as well as the entire team.”
Although he was halfway through the school year at Hazel Crest, Swilley said he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to return to the Bourbonnais school district when the job became available. His superintendent at Hazel Crest agreed and didn’t want him to miss out.
“I felt blessed that, you know, everything aligned,” he said.
Originally from Maywood, Swilley moved to the Bourbonnais area when he studied and played basketball at Olivet Nazarene University. He met his wife at ONU and remained in the area ever since, except for a couple of years living away.
Returning to work for Bourbonnais schools felt like coming home.
“It is very possible for people to work in schools and not live in the district in which they work,” he said. “But there is something very profound about living in the space that you work, and serving the people that live next door to you and their children and their families.”
FORMER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT RECOGNIZED
Duggan, 61, was recognized in December with a plaque for his 11-and-a-half years of service to the Bourbonnais school district. Duggan’s career in education spanned 25 years.
“Over the past four-and-a-half years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Jim, navigating many challenges and complexities of leadership together,” said Ehrman, who came to the district in 2020. “Whether it was tackling unexpected hurdles or making decisions, his steadfast guidance, wisdom and commitment to excellence were a constant I can always rely on.”
Duggan is from Chicago and started his career teaching in Wisconsin.
He plans to remain in the area but hopes to do some traveling in his retirement.
“I’m still relatively young, and I’m ready to do something different,” Duggan said. “It’s good to get new blood in. The person that replaces me will make things better. I have no doubt about that.”