Swampscott High School principal to depart; assistant named as successor; middle‑school principal search posted

The Swampscott School Committee announced March 13 that Swampscott High School principal Mr. Kohout will leave the district at the end of the school year and that Miss Sotto has been named his successor.

Why it matters: Leadership changes at the high school affect school operations, staff morale and continuity of programs. The committee said the selection of Miss Sotto draws on more than a decade of experience within the district.

Chair Glenn Pastor told the committee that Mr. Kohout will leave after 18 years at Swampscott High School and thanked him for his service, saying his tenure "has brought stability" to the high school. The committee then announced that, after 14 years at Swampscott High School and three years at Swampscott Middle School, Miss Sotto will be principal of Swampscott High School. Pastor described Sotto as "smart," "kind" and an "incredible instructional leader." Committee members who spoke at the meeting expressed confidence in the appointment.

The committee also discussed the middle‑school principal opening. The district has posted the position and advanced six applicants into the first round of interviews; the committee noted there may be an internal candidate among that group and that the interview process will begin the following Thursday.

Public comment: Mara Lau, a resident who identified her address during public comment, criticized the change and said she believed the departure was not voluntary. "After years, so this feels ill conceived and frankly disrespectful to a long standing teacher, assistant principal, and then principal," Mara Lau said, adding that the timing is poor given fiscal pressures the district faces.

Ending: The district will proceed with the middle‑school principal search and transition planning for the high‑school leadership change; no formal vote on the principal appointment was recorded in the March 13 transcript.