Church Farm School had some big shoes to fill on its Student Life team, with the retirement of Art Smith at the end of the school year.

Jonathan Swider, Class of 2014, will succeed Smith as CFS’s next Dean of Students. In this role, Swider will serve as the primary advocate for students and is responsible for all non-academic student matters. He will work closely with the school’s administration, faculty, and students to model and support a healthy, safe community.

Swider earned both his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and History and his master’s degree in School Improvement Leadership from Goucher College in Baltimore. 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, Swider:

• helped transition the school into a tech-driven, data-focused environment to enhance student engagement and emotional outcomes
• designed an advisory program supporting SEL (social-emotional learning) 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
• redesigned the Student Code of Conduct

“Returning to Church Farm School is more than coming back to a place — it’s coming home,” he said. “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”

CFS also appointed Gregory Groves as its new College Counselor. The College Guidance Program at CFS attracts more than 80 unique college admissions representatives annually, with 100 percent of graduates going on to best-fit schools. It also tracks alumni in college through the Alumni Success Program, where more than 90 percent of CFS graduates persist through college (twice the national average for young men of color).

Groves comes to CFS with a wealth of experiences in college admissions and counseling at schools around the country. Most recently, he worked in Admissions at Johns Hopkins University and in College Counseling at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. At CFS, he will guide scholars through the college application process, help them identify impactful summer learning opportunities to strengthen their résumés, and provide support to ensure their persistence and success in college.

“I am thrilled to join the CFS community,” said Groves. “During my time at a partner school (Christina Seix Academy), I worked closely with CFS and witnessed its strong culture of brotherhood and the transformative impact it has on students. I am honored to now contribute directly to that mission. The college admissions process can be a very momentous chapter — where hope and possibility meet stress and uncertainty — and I look forward to walking alongside our young men and helping them navigate this journey with purpose, clarity, and confidence.”

CFS has selected Jason Porter as the new Chair of its STEM Department. He has a strong background in and passion for biology and STEM instruction and fostering inclusive and engaging learning environments.

Porter comes to CFS from the Academic Solutions Group, where he has served as a senior education strategy consultant since 2022. His primary role was developing STEM education programs for clients, as well as designing and implementing organizational design and leadership workshops. He has also worked at Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST); kid-grit, LLC; TGR Foundation, a Tiger Woods Charity; KIPP Philadelphia Schools; and as an instructor at the University of the Sciences and Lehigh University.

“I am excited to join the dynamic faculty at Church Farm School,” said Porter. “I look forward to partnering with faculty and students to continue to develop the STEM program, while maintaining the traditions of excellence embedded at the school.”

Learn more about Church Farm School and how it serves boys from a range of socio-economic circumstances who are seeking an extraordinary educational opportunity.