This week, we are excited to profile Dr. Elaine Swafford, an extraordinary community and education leader in Chattanooga, TN.
In 2020, CharterFolk X profiled Dr. Elaine Swafford, CEO of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. We are proud to revisit her story five years later and celebrate her induction into the Charter Schools Hall of Fame.
Work Worth Doing
When Dr. Elaine Swafford joined the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) in 2012, she expected it to be only three years. This time was originally intended for Elaine to help stabilize Tennessee’s first single-gender public charter school. Almost 14 years later, she has not only transformed the school but also impacted the state’s educational landscape. In July, she was inducted into the 2025 Charter Schools Hall of Fame in recognition of her legacy.
From the Classroom to the Community
Elaine began her career in the classroom, teaching for six years before moving into higher education at Chattanooga State Community College, serving in multiple positions, including Vice President of Economic and Community Development. In this role, she led initiatives that connected the college with local businesses, launched co-op programs, and strengthened workforce pipelines.
“I’m a fix-it woman, I guess that’s all I’ve done this all my life,” said Elaine.
This unique role strengthened Elaine’s connections throughout Chattanooga and offered valuable insight into the skills students need to thrive beyond the classroom. Known for her leadership and talent for driving reform, Elaine returned to K–12 education when she was appointed Executive Principal of Howard School in Chattanooga from 2004 to 2007, tasked with leading a turnaround at the struggling institution.
After her successful tenure at Howard, Elaine became the Area II Superintendent for the Hamilton County Department of Education. She later joined the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA), where she transformed the school into a model for college preparation, STEM education, and real-world readiness, ensuring students graduated equipped for future success.
A Vision Expanded
Under her leadership, CGLA has grown from a single 18,000-square-foot building to a 166,000-square-foot campus that spans five blocks. CGLA has earned Reward School status, the highest designation under Tennessee’s federal accountability system. It’s also earned Cognia Accreditation, a process that “Probes the whole institution — from policies to learning conditions and cultural context — to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of every learner.” The school has become a trailblazer in preparing girls to excel in STEM fields.
But for Elaine, the work isn’t about awards or accolades. It’s about choice and opportunity.
“We want to meet kids where they are and take them as far as they can go,” she said.
Elaine believes that education should extend beyond textbooks. At CGLA, students have the opportunity to shadow professionals, gaining real-world insight and leadership experience from top business leaders. This year, 17 companies are participating, offering students a glimpse of careers and possibilities beyond the classroom.
“We take them out and let them experience and see the world beyond the classroom and the books,” said Elaine.
Every junior and senior at CGLA takes the ACT, supported by workshops, preparation materials, and multiple testing opportunities. The school offers grants to support students taking the ACT. Elaine incentivized high scores through 21+, 25+, and 30+ ACT clubs to drive student achievement, including full scholarships to institutions such as Columbia University.
“We say that we’re college prep, but we’re really an infinite choices prep school,” said Elaine. “One of the vision statements that we built for CGLA was to give them infinite choices for their future.”
Her impact goes beyond CGLA. She has helped open Chattanooga Preparatory Academy for boys and The Montessori School elementary school, creating pathways that feed into CGLA’s rigorous curriculum.
Community Engagement as a Keystone
Elaine places a strong emphasis on community engagement as a cornerstone of her success. She actively builds relationships with local businesses, community partners, and families, ensuring that her schools remain open, transparent, and connected. By hosting tours, serving on boards, and maintaining an active presence, she fosters collaboration and trust while creating opportunities for shared investment in student success. Elaine has served on boards like the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill Industries, and the YMCA. Elaine also accepted an appointment as chair of the Tennessee Charter School Center Board of Directors.
This pivot from her role as a community development executive into charter school leadership is successful because of her relationships in the community. Elaine says that if there is a podium to talk about public charter schools, she will do it.
Elaine often cites educator Ron Edmonds’ famous words: “We know what to do; it’s our choice whether we do it or not.”
“The best prize that life offers is a chance to work hard at work worth doing,” she said. “Even though it feels hard in the beginning, it gets better. I encourage colleagues to stay the course. We have to set our egos aside. I got into this work to help kids and families.”
For those looking to learn from her legacy, Elaine says, “We don’t step into this work because it’s easy. We step in it because someone needs us. Even though it feels hard in the beginning — I don’t know if it gets easier, but it gets better.”