Faculty
Teachers that care
Touchstone faculty are creative and caring, committed to building a collaborative learning environment in keeping with our progressive philosophy. Our commitment to a broad and varied curriculum affords teachers the independence to bring their personal expertise to the classroom.
Elisabeth Swain
Head of School
Elisabeth was appointed Head of School in July of 2025. She brings with her experience as an educational leader committed to progressive, student-centered learning. She is passionate about cultivating schools where curiosity, creativity, and compassion thrive.
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Elisabeth’s first classroom was in an Agway steel building in the middle of a field. It was there - exploring vernal pools, building forts with her students and learning and sharing the history of the land the school was on - that she fell in love with place-based, thematic learning. Bringing that with her to independent schools in East Providence, Exeter and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, as well as to Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands, Elisabeth continued to connect students with the wider world and find ways to integrate social justice, nature-based learning and real-world experiences into the curriculum she was building. Elisabeth has had the opportunity to take on various roles outside of teaching and has experience in curriculum coordination/design, development/advancement, AISNE accreditation, and enrollment.
Outside of school, Elisabeth is an avid reader, a lover of the arts, and a parent who understands firsthand the joys and complexities of raising children in today's world.
From my earliest days as an educator, I have been drawn to schools that prioritize curiosity, connection, and transformative learning. The moment I stepped onto the Touchstone campus, I felt a connection to the engaged and joyful energy I found in every class that I visited.
Over the past two decades, I have fostered student-centered learning environments that empower young people to think critically and find their voices. Education is not just about preparing students for the future; it’s about equipping them to actively engage in the world today. I believe that school should be a place that is inspiring, empowering, and deeply human—a place where education is an adventure, students are seen as individuals, and learning is both vigorous and full of joy. Touchstone’s commitment to interdisciplinary, theme-based learning that is grounded in equity and inclusion is something I deeply admire, and I look forward to building upon this strong foundation.
As I step into this role, I do so with great appreciation for the work that has made Touchstone the vibrant learning community it is today. I look forward to listening, learning, and collaborating with the community — students, faculty, staff, and families — to honor the school’s traditions while embracing the exciting possibilities ahead.
