Christian Bernard is hard to miss.

Besides being 6-foot-8, the new member of Church Farm School’s humanities and cottage faculty has a broad smile, a deep voice, and an engaging presence. In his youth, the Downingtown East graduate played basketball and gravitated toward science and literature.

One of his favorite experiences was working with teens as a summer camp counselor. Service to youth has become a theme of his adult life, too. He majored in psychology at Duquesne University and joined the Collegiate 100 (Duquesne’s chapter of the 100 Black Men of America), tutoring and advising middle and high schoolers.

“It’s important to not only help them with their studies, but to have male, professional African-American role models,” he said.

All of his volunteerism — Bernard also did an extended school year supporting autistic youth — resulted in him pivoting toward education, taking courses at both Lehigh and the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, he spent a year teaching English Language Arts at a North Philadelphia charter school with Greater Philadelphia Teach for America.

Then, he saw a job opening at Church Farm School.

“I was enthralled by the mission,” said Bernard. “Then, I got on campus and saw the focus on culture and community; I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”

In addition to serving as the Head of House in Disston Cottage, Bernard is teaching two sections of Modern Global History. He sums up his teaching style as an acronym: CARE.

“I am compassionate and looking for Compassion from my students, too,” he said. “Accountability is also important; I want the students to have high expectations of me and themselves. Respect is a two-way street that creates an environment that facilitates the right kind of learners. And finally, Engagement. I like to use tools that CFS provides, but I also want the students to tell me what will make the gears turn for them, what will light that spark.”

When he’s not working, Bernard enjoys playing basketball and video games, watching anime, and reading. His favorite book is written by a former school psychologist, Charles Barrett. It’s Always About the Children focuses on “not what’s going on with the child, but what’s going on around the child.”

Learn more about how Church Farm School prepares a diverse group of boys with academic ability and good character to lead productive and fulfilling lives by making a college preparatory education financially accessible.