Cheltenham Superintendent Resigns Amid Hazing Scandal
Cheltenham Superintendent Resigns Amid Hazing Scandal
The Cheltenham School District is facing another major leadership change after Superintendent Dr. Brian Scriven announced his resignation in the wake of the criminal investigation into the district’s football hazing scandal.
In a letter to the Cheltenham community released Thursday, Scriven said the past year had been one of the most difficult in the district’s history.
“I have thought long and hard about what is best, not for me, but for the students, staff, and families who depend on strong, trusted leadership,” Scriven wrote. “I have come to believe that the district is best served by a fresh start under new leadership, and that stepping aside now is the right and necessary step to allow Cheltenham to move forward.”
The Cheltenham School District Board of Directors accepted Scriven’s resignation and appointed Joshua Sweigard, the district’s director of business services, as acting superintendent.
The resignation comes one week after Montgomery County prosecutors announced charges against 10 individuals—including four former football coaches and six players—following a lengthy investigation into alleged hazing inside the Cheltenham High School football program. Authorities say a 15-year-old player was assaulted twice in the locker room during the 2025 season, with investigators alleging coaches attempted to cover up the incidents instead of reporting them.
Among those charged are former head coach Terence Tolbert, associate head coach Darian “DJ” McFadden, assistant coach Benjamin Johnson III, and volunteer coach Ralph Burnley, who face charges including endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy. Two adult players and four juveniles also face criminal charges stemming from the alleged assaults.
The scandal has had lasting consequences for the football program. Cheltenham suspended its 2025 season after the allegations surfaced and later canceled its entire 2026 varsity and junior varsity football seasons while investigations continued. The district will field only a ninth-grade football team this fall.
Scriven concluded his resignation letter by expressing confidence that new leadership would help the district heal and move forward after one of the most challenging periods in its history.
Cheltenham Superintendent Resigns Amid Hazing Scandal was originally published on rnbphilly.com
