The Board of Education has approved former Washington Township music teacher and choral director Joseph Zachowski Jr. as assistant principal at Washington Township High School, effective December 1, 2022. Zachowski will assume the duties of retiring assistant principal Steve Cordner, who has served in the District for 26 years, more than 20 years in administration.
In his new role, Zachowski will serve as the ninth-grade assistant principal. In addition to handling freshman discipline and attendance, he will conduct teacher observations, plan school events, and oversee all extra-curricular and co-curricular activities for grades 9-12.
“I am excited to serve our school community in this capacity,” said Zachowski, a 2000 WTHS graduate. “WTHS is my home, and a place that shaped me into who I am, while providing incredible opportunities in and out of the classroom. I look forward to giving back and helping our students feel TWP Pride each and every day.”
Zachowski was hired to the District in August 2004 and served until June 2013 as a general music teacher and choral director at Chestnut Ridge and Orchard Valley Middle Schools, where he also served as a co-curricular advisor for the schools’ fall plays, spring musicals, talent shows and select choirs. Zachowski moved to Washington Township High School at the start of the 2013-14 school year as choral director, where he planned, implemented and evaluated individual and group choral instruction for grades 9-12 and served as the advisor for the school’s a cappella choirs, musicals, and South Jersey and All-State choruses.
As choral director, Zachowski has produced an annual “Pops Experience,” combining the talents of more than 300 students in collaboration with sound and light production companies and professional musicians. He developed and implemented staff professional development at the District and state level, including sessions on “Social Media in the Classroom,” “Aligning K-12 Choral Strategies,” and “The WHY of Virtual Rehearsals.” He also played an integral role in curriculum revisions, including 12 separate courses of study in grades 6-12. Zachowski has served on numerous District committees, including the 2020 Re-Opening Task Force, Grading and Assessment Coalition, and the WTHS School Improvement Committee. Zachowski also has served as the program supervisor for Deptford Theatrical Productions since 2012.
Zachowski earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the College of New Jersey and a master of arts degree in school administration from Rowan University. He is a state certified music teacher and also holds supervisor and principal certifications.
