Superintendent To Leave Cherry Hill Schools: What's Next For The District?

CHERRY HILL, NJ — With a Pennsylvania school district approving Dr. Joseph N. Meloche's appointment Thursday, Cherry Hill will officially need a new superintendent.

The Rose Tree Media Board of School Directors voted to approve Meloche as the district's new superintendent. He will begin the job July 1.

His upcoming departure means that the Cherry Hill Township School District will need a new superintendent for the first time since 2015, when Meloche took the role.

• From Monday: Cherry Hill Superintendent Plans To Leave District For PA Job

Appointing a superintendent in a New Jersey school district is often a months-long process with opportunities for community input. In Cherry Hill, the Board of Education will vote Tuesday on approving Meloche's "submission of retirement, according to a district spokesperson.

The board will begin to determine the timeline and next steps for replacing the superintendent at April 11's Committee of the Whole meeting.

The Rose Tree Media School District — based in Media, about 13 miles west of Philadelphia — announced Monday that Meloche was set to become the district's next superintendent. His appointment depended on a vote from Rose Tree Media's school board, which occurred Thursday.

"The Board of School Directors was impressed with Dr. Meloche’s wealth of knowledge in all areas of school district leadership," said Board President Theresa Napson-Williams. "He has a proven track record as a thoughtful and innovative leader who will seek continual improvement for our district while being mindful of children first, always."

Meloche will begin the role with a $245,000 base salary, which will increase by 3 percent annually. His salary at Cherry Hill this school year is $236,390.63. With his contract officially expiring in 2026, Meloche would've made a $242,300.40 salary in 2024-25 and $248,357.91 in 2025-26.

Meloche sent a brief announcement Monday to the Cherry Hill school community alerting them of his upcoming appointment in Media.

"There are, and will be, more words and thoughts to share as we move forward together during the next three months," Meloche said. "I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible as we finish the 2022-2023 academic year."

Meloche became Cherry Hill's superintendent in August 2015, becoming the first district alumnus to take the role. Before returning to Cherry Hill schools as a teacher in September 2003, Meloche taught middle-school humanities and English in Willingboro and Maple Shade.

Before becoming superintendent, Meloche served as principal at the three Cherry Hill schools he attended — Kingston Elementary School, Carusi Middle School and Cherry Hill High School West. He left his position as principal at the latter in July 2013 to become Cherry Hill's director of curriculum. One year later, he became the district's assistant superintendent for PreK-12.

The New Jersey Association of School Administrators named Meloche as the state's 2021 Superintendent of the Year. Read more: Cherry Hill's Meloche Named Top Superintendent In New Jersey