Superintendent, Deanna Swearingen

Ms. Swearingen was appointed Superintendent by the BUSD Board of Trustees on October 25,
2022. 

Swearingen says her favorite thing about the students of BUSD is that they are resilient.
“Many of them have overcome challenges that students and kids in other areas have never
experienced and our kids get up every day and come to school and do everything they can to
become educated and do better in life.”

Ms. Swearingen joined Barstow Unified in February 2020 as Chief Business Official. In that
time, Swearingen was instrumental in the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring
education continued for the students of Barstow. She assisted in assembling the paper learning
packets for students, as well as oversaw the distribution of pre-packaged meals so none of the
District’s 6,000-plus students would go hungry.

As CBO, Ms. Swearingen was in charge of the Business Services Department, which includes
five other departments: Facilities, Maintenance and Operations, Fiscal Services, Purchasing,
Warehouse, and Print Shop and Risk Management.

Ms. Swearingen began her career in education as a mentor teacher, managing an independent
study center in Hesperia, as well as spending seven years in the classroom and serving as a
director of various student programs before moving into administration.

Ms. Swearingen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Cal Baptist University
and a Master of Science degree in Education for School Business Leadership with a certificate in
School Management Negotiations from Wilkes University.