Neighbor News
RV NJROTC Instructor Named Educator of the Year
Rancocas Valley Regional High School District awards naval science instructor, Chief David Aupperle
Mount Holly, N.J. – The Rancocas Valley Regional High School District (RVRHS) announced naval science instructor, Chief David Aupperle, as its 2023-2024 Governor’s Educator of the Year.
In his role with the district, Chief Aupperle oversees a strong Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) comprised of more than 150 students and designated year after year as a Distinguished Unit, often with Academic Honors. His involvement with the RVRHS NJROTC over the past 20 years has deepened his dedication to the program and each student involved.
“This program is all about leadership and citizenship,” Chief Aupperle said. “As our students progress, they take on more and more responsibilities to eventually run the battalion. They realize there is nothing they can’t do, and they will succeed when they leave here.”
Find out what's happening in Moorestownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Seeing that realization on students’ faces is what gives Chief Aupperle a “sense of purpose.”
In the nominations that poured in for Chief Aupperle as Educator of the Year, a member of the RVRHS support staff noted he is one “who leads by creating leaders.” Another colleague wrote how he “provides tough love, compassion, and structure on a daily basis” and yet another said he is “always the first to volunteer for anything happening outside of the classroom.”
Find out what's happening in Moorestownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The NJROTC is an elective for students, but the program extends beyond the classroom as students meet before and after school and during daily tutorials to practice skills and prepare for drill, land navigation and other competitions. The students also represent the battalion in the community, participating in service activities as well as marching in parades.
Chief Aupperle and his colleague, CDR Sean Easley, show up for all of it to support the students and ensure the Navy core values of honor, courage and commitment are weaved into every activity and interaction.
These are values Chief Aupperle has carried with him from his 21-year military career. He retired as a Navy counselor before getting certified as a ROTC instructor and setting out on the path that led him to RVRHS.
“I still enjoy this, every day. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon,” he said.
Chief Aupperle is a Philadelphia native and still resides in the Philadelphia area.
