After more than 20 years in public education, Dr. Joseph Meloche was appointed Superintendent of the Cherry Hill Public Schools on August 25, 2015. He is the first district alumnus to serve as Superintendent. Prior to returning to Cherry Hill as an educator in 2003, Dr. Meloche taught middle school humanities and middle school English in the Willingboro and the Maple Shade school districts. He also served as the Director of Curriculum and as the principal of the Steinhauer School in Maple Shade.
Following his return to Cherry Hill, Dr. Meloche served as the principal of the three Cherry Hill schools he attended as a student – Kingston Elementary School, Carusi Middle School, and Cherry Hill High School West. He left his position as the principal of Cherry Hill High School West to become Cherry Hill’s Director of Curriculum in July 2013. Less than one year later, he transitioned to serve the district as the Assistant Superintendent for PreK-12.
Past AASA New Jersey Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2020 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year: Mackey Pendergrast
2019 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year: Michael Salvatore, Ph.D.
About the Superintendent of the Year:
As a sponsor of the superintendent of the Year program, First Student wants to recognize these leaders in a special way this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption that has affected all education systems but also the innovative approaches that the superintendents and school districts addressed through radio, television, zoom and take-home packages. These superintendents are the very best in public education and are needed more than ever during this crisis.
About the Award:
The superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, The School superintendents Association, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State level winners are selected on the following criteria:
- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement