Alumni Spotlight:
William Kochis, Ed.D., ’21
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
Class of: 2021
The Journey Continues…
Superintendent and Director of Curriculum, Chester School District
For William Kochis, Ed.D., ’21, educational leadership is about continually learning, adapting, and creating opportunities for students, educators, and future school leaders to succeed.
A resident of Fredon Township, New Jersey, Kochis earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Centenary University in 2021. His educational background also includes a bachelor of arts in Sociology from Drew University, a master of arts in Teaching from Montclair State University, and a master of arts in Educational Leadership from Montclair State.
Kochis began his administrative career as a principal, serving at Clifton E. Lawrence School in the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District and later at Hazel Avenue Elementary School in West Orange. He went on to serve as superintendent of Stillwater Township School and as shared superintendent of Stillwater Township School District and the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District.
In June 2025, Kochis became Superintendent and Director of Curriculum for the Chester School District, where he provides executive leadership while overseeing instructional programming across the PreK–8 district.
“Earning my Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at Centenary University was pivotal in equipping me with the executive, research, and strategic mindset necessary to lead successful school districts,” Kochis said.
In his current dual role, Kochis is responsible for districtwide budgeting, personnel, Board governance, curriculum development, staff development, and state assessment strategy. Throughout his career, he has emphasized data-informed decision-making, instructional improvement, and organizational leadership.
Kochis credits his doctoral experience at Centenary with sharpening those skills and helping him approach district leadership from a broader strategic perspective.
“The program sharpened my approach to data-informed decision-making, fiscal oversight, and system-wide innovation,” he said.
His professional accomplishments include being named Sussex County Superintendent of the Year for 2023–24. Under his leadership, Stillwater School District was recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary School for both 2022–23 and 2023–24.
Kochis’ commitment to leadership extends beyond the districts he has served. Since 2021, Kochis has mentored aspiring administrators through the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association’s Leaders to Leaders program. He has also served as vice president of the Sussex County Superintendents’ Roundtable Association, Educational Liaison to the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, and a volunteer youth athletics coach.
Kochis has maintained a meaningful connection with Centenary. Today, he serves as an adjunct professor and doctoral dissertation chair, helping to prepare the next generation of educational leaders.
“Centenary fostered a lasting passion for academic leadership that continues today through my work as an adjunct professor and doctoral dissertation chair, mentoring the next generation of educational leaders,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kochis hopes to balance local impact with a broader contribution to public education.
In the short term, Kochis is focused on providing high-performing, data-informed leadership for the Chester School District while expanding partnerships with local organizations. Long term, he plans to contribute to conversations at the state and national levels surrounding equitable school funding, early childhood access, assessment practices, technology integration, and curriculum innovation.
For today’s Centenary students, Kochis emphasizes adaptability as one of the most important qualities they can develop. “The job market is changing fast, so learning how to learn and being willing to pivot is essential,” Kochis said.
Most importantly, Kochis encourages students not to fear setbacks:
“Don’t be afraid to fail early and view setbacks as feedback rather than defeat. This is what really builds long-term confidence and career resilience.”