Voorhees Public Schools superintendent named top in state
Voorhees Township Public Schools is home to New Jersey’s super superintendent.
Voorhees superintendent Raymond J. Brosel Jr. was recently named New Jersey superintendent of the year and will represent the state at the American Association of School Administrators conference next year in February, where he has a chance at being named National Superintendent of the Year.
Brosel, who has been superintendent of the Voorhees Township Public School District since 1986, was told in September that he had won. The Camden County Association of School Administrators nominated him for the award.
“I consider it a great honor. It is humbling to be selected by my peers, because there are some really great people out there,” Brosel said.
Brosel started working in the field of education in 1967 as a teacher at Camden High School in the city of Camden, where he taught high school business classes. He later served in the Navy and in 1977 came to Voorhees as a business administrator. He moved to the position of superintendent at Voorhees in 1986.
In addition to his career in education, Brosel served as the mayor of Evesham Township, is a member of the American Association of School Administrators and was past president of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.
He noted his experience as mayor helped him gain an understanding of the local community, how to be a good listener and the constraints and concerns of municipal government.
“When you chair public meetings, you learn about the community and understand where people are coming from,” he said.
Brosel is always in search of different ways to resolve challenges that face the district. “I try to make sure I stay current and understand the challenges that are coming our way so that I can be a part of resolving those challenges. When you are active and involved, you become part of the solution,” he said.
As superintendent, Brosel decided to make a difference in sustainability practices through the district. He brought utility companies into the district to evaluate how the district’s schools could reduce their energy usage, and he also installed motion detecting hallway lights to save energy and costs.
He helped the school district earn grants and pass a bond referendum to fund a solar panel project on the roof of Voorhees Middle School. The solar panel project included the installation of an informational kiosk in the library for students, which shows how much energy the solar panels are generating. The project was funded partially by outside grants and a community-supported bond referendum by the district.
In addition, Brosel showed his enthusiasm to educational technology through the district’s acquisition of smart boards and projectors in classrooms and computers for students.
“We’ve always tried to stay on the leading edge of technology and in keeping the curriculum current to the standards the state has in place. Our goal is to provide excellent educational programs to students,” he said.
Brosel is dedicated to both being involved in the community himself and involving the community in the school district — all with the ultimate goal of improving education for Voorhees students.
The superintendent’s proudest accomplishment is being able to lead the team that makes Voorhees the way it is and credits others for the district’s achievements. Brosel emphasized the importance of everyone in the community as an educator.
“One person can’t make it happen alone,” he said, crediting the community, parents, district staff and the board of education. “We all work as a group together, because our focus is on the youngsters,” he said.
Brosel, who has been superintendent of the Voorhees Township Public School District since 1986, was told in September that he had won. The Camden County Association of School Administrators nominated him for the award.
“I consider it a great honor. It is humbling to be selected by my peers, because there are some really great people out there,” Brosel said.
Brosel started working in the field of education in 1967 as a teacher at Camden High School in the city of Camden, where he taught high school business classes. He later served in the Navy and in 1977 came to Voorhees as a business administrator. He moved to the position of superintendent at Voorhees in 1986.
In addition to his career in education, Brosel served as the mayor of Evesham Township, is a member of the American Association of School Administrators and was past president of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.
He noted his experience as mayor helped him gain an understanding of the local community, how to be a good listener and the constraints and concerns of municipal government.
“When you chair public meetings, you learn about the community and understand where people are coming from,” he said.
Brosel is always in search of different ways to resolve challenges that face the district. “I try to make sure I stay current and understand the challenges that are coming our way so that I can be a part of resolving those challenges. When you are active and involved, you become part of the solution,” he said.
As superintendent, Brosel decided to make a difference in sustainability practices through the district. He brought utility companies into the district to evaluate how the district’s schools could reduce their energy usage, and he also installed motion detecting hallway lights to save energy and costs.
He helped the school district earn grants and pass a bond referendum to fund a solar panel project on the roof of Voorhees Middle School. The solar panel project included the installation of an informational kiosk in the library for students, which shows how much energy the solar panels are generating. The project was funded partially by outside grants and a community-supported bond referendum by the district.
In addition, Brosel showed his enthusiasm to educational technology through the district’s acquisition of smart boards and projectors in classrooms and computers for students.
“We’ve always tried to stay on the leading edge of technology and in keeping the curriculum current to the standards the state has in place. Our goal is to provide excellent educational programs to students,” he said.
Brosel is dedicated to both being involved in the community himself and involving the community in the school district — all with the ultimate goal of improving education for Voorhees students.
The superintendent’s proudest accomplishment is being able to lead the team that makes Voorhees the way it is and credits others for the district’s achievements. Brosel emphasized the importance of everyone in the community as an educator.
“One person can’t make it happen alone,” he said, crediting the community, parents, district staff and the board of education. “We all work as a group together, because our focus is on the youngsters,” he said.
