Out of the thousands of people who stepped foot in Cherry Hill Public Schools as a student, teacher, staff member or administrator, perhaps no one has seen the district through as many positions as assistant superintendent Joseph Meloche.
Meloche’s journey in the district began as a student at Kingston Elementary, Carusi Middle School and Cherry Hill High School West. Later, he returned to the district as an educator, serving as principal at each of the three schools he attended as a child. In 2013, Meloche moved to the Malberg Administration Building in 2013 as he was named the district’s director of curriculum. He was again promoted in 2014 to assistant superintendent for pre-K-12.
On Aug. 25, Meloche will move up one more step as the Cherry Hill Board of Education plans to appoint him as the district’s new superintendent.
The board of education announced last week Meloche has been selected as the new superintendent of Cherry Hill Public Schools. The board named him as the finalist candidate and at last Tuesday’s meeting, approved a resolution to submit his new contract for approval to the Camden County Superintendent’s office.
“Pending approval of the contract, the board plans to appoint Dr. Meloche at the Aug. 25 meeting,” board president Carol Matlack said.
If appointed at the Aug. 25 meeting, Meloche will begin serving in the superintendent’s position on Sept. 1, coinciding with the first day of school for students in the district. He will become the first Cherry Hill alumnus to also serve as the district’s superintendent.
Meloche said he was extremely excited upon learning he was the final candidate.
“I am excited and humbled by the opportunity to assume this position and I am eager for the students to return to school and for the academic year to officially begin,” he said.
The selection of Meloche came after the board received 26 applications for the superintendent position. Out of that group, eight candidates were asked to interview. The three final candidates were invited back in separate interviews.
The board expressed happiness in selecting Meloche for the position, saying in a statement it was impressed with his experience at all levels of education, his intelligence on numerous educational topics and his forward-thinking vision for the district.
Meloche earned his bachelor’s degree from DeSales University and master’s degrees from Holy Family University and Widener University. He returned to Widener to earn a doctorate in education.
Prior to returning to Cherry Hill as an educator, Meloche taught middle school humanities and English at the Willingboro and Maple Shade schools districts. He also served as the director of curriculum and principal of the Steinhauer School in Maple Shade.
Meloche’s said his goal early in his career was simply to be a successful teacher and make learning come alive for his students. As his career progressed however, Meloche wanted to do more.
“As I learned and matured as an educator, I was eager to do more, to be engaged with more students and with more families,” he said. “My desire to become superintendent in Cherry Hill has developed during the course of my administrative career.”
Being the first Cherry Hill alumnus to serve as superintendent is extra special for Meloche. He described how attending school in Cherry Hill as a child helped lead him to a career in education.
“As a student in Cherry Hill, my connection to school flourished,” he said. “My interest was piqued by creative and talented teachers as the community provided the opportunity for the schools to thrive. Being a graduate of the system personally connects me to all of the students who are currently enrolled as well as the tens of thousands of graduates.”
Meloche’s roots remain in Cherry Hill. He still lives in the township with his wife, Ann, and their four daughters. All of his children have attended or are still attending Cherry Hill Public Schools.
The board is planning a meet and greet with Meloche sometime during the early part of the school year. A date and location for the event will be announced in the coming weeks.
