CFS Alumnus Jon Swider '14 Selected as Dean of Students

Church Farm School is pleased to announce that Jon Swider ’14 has been selected as its next Dean of Students, succeeding longtime faculty member (and his former advisor) Art Smith who recently retired after 47 years at the all-boys boarding and day high school in Exton. In this role, Jon will serve as the primary advocate for students and is responsible for all non-academic student matters. He will report to the Director of Student Life and Athletics, Suni Blackwell, and will work closely with the Church Farm School administration, faculty and students to model and support a healthy, safe community.

 

Jon graduated from CFS in 2014 and attended Goucher College in Baltimore, where he earned his BA in secondary education and history, as well as his M.Ed. in school improvement leadership. Most recently, he was the Head of School at Columbia Academy Elementary and Middle School in Columbia, Maryland. Prior to this role, he was Columbia’s Dean of Students and Faculty. In these positions, Jon helped transition the school into a tech-driven, data-focused environment to enhance student engagement and emotional outcomes; designed an advisory program supporting SEL and mental health; empowered students to lead through the formation of weekly Leadership Council assemblies; developed and implemented a behavior management system; mentored educators on enhancing student-teacher interactions and classroom culture; and redesigned the Student Code of Conduct; among many other achievements.

 

"Returning to Church Farm School is more than coming back to a place — it’s coming home. This community shaped who I am, and I’m honored to now help shape the next generation of young men. My passion for education has always been rooted in purpose, and there’s no greater purpose than serving the school that first believed in me," he says. 

 

“We are so thrilled to have an alumnus of the school in this critical student-facing role, especially one with such vast accomplishments in schools. We are certain that Jon will model our core values, and lead with as much integrity and grace as his predecessor,” says Dr. Troy Baker, CFS Head of School.

 

Jon came to CFS in 7^th grade a year after his brother, Kelly ’13, joined the community. An honors student, Jon was a member of the school’s INTERACT Club, played soccer and received the school’s Social Studies Award. A stellar wrestler at CFS, Jon founded and coached the Youth Wrestling Team at Columbia, encouraging teamwork, resilience and school pride among student-athletes. Jon will join fellow CFS alumni currently working at CFS Tom Johnstone ’09, Omar Vicente ‘14, Asa Sams ’17, Tumi Tyndall ’18 and Kharnel Swans ‘20.