The Storm King School is pleased to welcome several new faculty members into our diverse and global community for the 2023-2024 school year. Along with their professional qualifications, all of our newcomers offer something unique to our vibrant faculty roster.

Emily Cole-Chu MacSwain joins us as the Assistant Head for Student Life after a decade in Munich, Germany, where she served on the senior leadership team at Bavarian International School as the Head of Student Wellbeing and Community Welfare. Prior to that, she also served as their Head of Student Support Services. Emily is an alumna of The Ethel Walker School and returned there as the Associate Dean of Students and the Middle School Counselor. She also worked in leadership at the John Hopkins Program for Talented Youth in Hong Kong.

Emily earned her BA from Occidental College in Art History and Studio Art, and MA from Antioch University in Marriage and Family Therapy, and she completed Harvard University’s graduate certificate program in School Management and Leadership. Prior to her master’s degree and career in education, she worked as a fundraiser and events manager for several non-profit organizations in Los Angeles and New York City. Emily is living on campus with her husband, Robert, who is also teaching at SKS, and their three children and new puppy.

Christy Cunningham teaches math and science in the Academic Support Program. In addition to teaching, she coaches the girls volleyball and girls tennis teams. Christy is from the Midwest, graduating from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a minor in marketing. At Purdue, she played Big Ten NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball for the Boilermakers. Christy lives near campus with her husband and six children, one who is a senior at SKS.

Robert MacSwain joins the faculty as a science teacher and boys basketball coach. Robert hails from Nova Scotia, Canada. He graduated from the University of King’s College with a BA Advance Major in History and a Minor in English, followed by a BA in Secondary Education at Acadia University. For the next 20 years, Robert taught science, mathematics, and English at international schools in Hong Kong, Bulgaria, and Germany. He brings a wealth of experience in teaching students from a variety of cultural backgrounds and creating inquiry-based curriculum that is both challenging and inclusive. He also enjoys passing on his skiing and kayaking skills to anyone who wants to learn.

Leigh Katz joins SKS as our ESL Chair and International Student Co-Coordinator. Leigh received her BFA in Theatre from The New School and her MA in English from Columbia University Teachers College, where she was inducted into the International Honor Society in Education. She has extensive experience working as a traditional classroom teacher, private educator, and coach. Many of her students have come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and her trips abroad have affirmed her belief that travel promotes learning and education. Leigh is also a professional actress with a resume that includes voiceovers, feature films, and Off-Broadway, regional, and local stage credits.

Sara Sandstrom joins the SKS Student Life Office as an Associate Dean of Students. Sara brings extensive residential life experience at the collegiate level with five years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign followed by seven years in a similar role at Smith College. Most recently, she served for eight years as the Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life at Oakwood Friends School. Alongside her duties in the Dean’s Office, Sara teaches Global History and coaches JV girls basketball.

Join us in wishing our new faculty members, along with our entire faculty and staff, a successful and productive year. Their combined expertise, dedication and enthusiasm are sure to make Storm King’s 156^th another great year!