06/02/2026
A New Chapter Begins at Indian Creek Middle School!
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Keith Swearingen as the new Principal of Indian Creek Middle School!
MINGO JUNCTION- Keith Swearingen has spent the past 10 years as assistant principal at Indian Creek High School, but now he is moving on to lead middle school students this fall.
Swearingen will serve as principal at Indian Creek Middle School with Todd Herman continuing as assistant principal, and the former is returning to some familiar stomping grounds since it is where he previously taught. He will officially begin his new duties on July 1 but has gotten an early glimpse while filling in at the school over the past year.
The Knoxville native graduated from Jefferson Union High School in 1989 and eventually received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Troy State University in Alabama, as well as a graduate degree in educational leadership with principal and superintendent’s licensure from Franciscan University. The Toronto-area resident began teaching third grade at the former Wintersville Elementary, spending six years at the building before he headed to ICMS. He taught fifth-grade students there for four years and then was named assistant principal at ICHS in 2016.
During that time, he has been involved in shaping the school culture and worked with natural resources pathway instructor Crystal Fluharty to develop the hellbender pilot project at the site, making ICHS the only public high school involved in the program with state agencies and national universities. The goal is to help save the endangered salamander from extinction and repopulate area waterways where they have lived for hundreds of years.
Swearingen has divided his time between the middle and high schools as of late and acclimated himself with the students and staff at the Mingo Junction campus. He said he has enjoyed his tenure at ICHS and was grateful for the opportunity.
“I had a wonderful experience at the high school. I enjoyed working with the teachers, students, and the school community and [Principal Louie] Retton has been a terrific friend and mentor,” he added. “But I’m excited and looking forward to doing something new at the middle school.”
He will oversee a slightly larger student population since ICMS has an estimated 600 sixth-to-eighth-graders, while the high school has around 500 pupils in grades 9-12. Some of his goals include implementing a professional learning community and a new schedule.
Herman welcomed Swearingen and said he has been an asset to the school district.
“I am looking forward to working with Mr. Swearingen and he is bringing an incredible amount of leadership experience to his new role,” he commented. “He has been an intricate part of the success of Indian Creek High School while collaborating with Mr. Retton. He has a genuine compassion for his students and staff, and his lengthy background in education, which includes his time as an elementary teacher, gives him the necessary experience to successfully lead ICMS.”
Additionally, Retton said Swearingen was a major contributor to the high school’s success.
“Keith and I have worked as a principal and assistant principal at ICHS for the past 10 years. We came in together at the high school and I feel like we were a great team. We’ve done a lot to change the culture of the high school and Keith will really be missed because he’s built relationships with students, parents, and staff.”
Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear noted Swearingen’s role with the hellbender project and continued that he opened the gym for students to play basketball during lunch, plus he helped with the establishment of the unified sports program.
“He has done a fantastic job here at the high school for the last 10 years,” Dr. Chappelear said. “I know he is excited to get started at the middle school. He’s taught there and is excited to get back to the building.”
Subsequently, Matt Cowser has been named to succeed Swearingen and will formally begin his duties this summer.
*Article written by Amy Gareis*
