John Cocuzza - Supervisor of Guidance
Mr. John Cocuzza was an Industrial Arts teacher for ten years prior to moving into the Guidance Department in 1996. He has been at Oakcrest High School for the past 21 years. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at The College of New Jersey and his Masters Degree in Student Personnel Services at Rowan University. Mr. Cocuzza also served as a baseball coach for 12 years while at Oakcrest and also advised the Peer Mediation Program. In 1993 he was recognized as Oakcrest High School’s “Teacher of the Year”. Mr. Cocuzza served as project manager for our district’s K-12 Guidance curriculum which is currently recognized as a model program in the State of New Jersey. He is very proud of the OHS guidance staff for their New Jersey Department of Education’s 2006 Best Practice recognition. He enjoys the student body, faculty, and supportive school community that can be found at Oakcrest High School. He is a big New York Mets and Jets fan, enjoys coaching youth league baseball in his community as well as spending time with his wife Kathi and son Anthony.

E-Mail Address: JCocuzza@geh.nj.k12us.com

Brian Currie- Supervisor of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health
Mr. Currie, a 1990 graduate of Toms River High School East, attended Glassboro State College for two years where he played football. In the summer of 1992, Mr. Currie transferred to The George Washington University in Washington, DC to intern with Senator Bill Bradley and Representative Jim Saxton while attaining his B.A. in Political Science. After graduating in 1994, Mr. Currie decided to pursue a career in education and attended The Richard Stockton College of NJ for his teaching certificate. In 1998, he became a Social Studies teacher at Toms River High School South and transferred to High School East in 2001. Mr. Currie was an assistant football coach in Toms River Schools for 12 years, an assistant indoor and outdoor track coach for 5 years, and the Strength and Conditioning coach for 10 years. Mr. Currie was also an Internal Coordinator for the Middle States process at Toms River High School East, an Advanced Placement American History teacher, a Political Science teacher, and Mock Trial advisor. Mr. Currie completed his graduate work at New Jersey City University in 2005 with a Masters in Educational Leadership. Brian, his wife MaryBeth, his son Matthew, and his daughter Megan live in Toms River and are awaiting the fifth member of the Currie family due in September of 2007.

E-Mail Address: BCurrie@geh.nj.k12us.com

Lea Fitzpatrick- Supervisor of Science and Related Arts
Mrs. Fitzpatrick began her career at Edgewood High School and moved to Oakcrest High School in September 2000. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Coastal Carolina University and a Master’s Degree in School Administration from Rowan University. Mrs. Fitz has taught Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Genetics & Issues in Contemporary Society. She enjoys being involved with the Oakcrest community. Mrs. Fitz has served as head cheerleading coach, advisor to science club and peer mediation, co-chair of the Jersey Shore Curriculum Project, and as a member of the professional development committee. She is also involved with the Princeton University Molecular Biology Satellite Center for South Jersey teachers located here at Oakcrest. In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking and traveling with her husband Tom and daughter Brynn.

E-Mail Address: LFitzpatrick@geh.nj.k12us.com

Christopher Hall—Supervisor of English/World
Languages and Reading
Mr. Christopher Hall began his educational career in the South Orange-Maplewood School District in Essex County where he taught for four years and served as Team Leader of his interdisciplinary teaching team. The emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching and energetic staff drew Mr. Hall to Oakcrest when he and his wife relocated to Atlantic County in 2003. Mr. Hall earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbia University and his Master of Arts in Teaching from Teachers College-Columbia University. He earned a second Masters degree in Educational Administration at Kean University. Before coming to Oakcrest, Mr. Hall also served as Coordinator of Youth Programs for both the Boys and Girls Club of Newark and the College for Kids program at Union County College. He is an avid fan of the New York Yankees, Knicks and Giants. He enjoys spending time on the Ventnor beaches with his wife Rebecca and his daughter Alice.

E-Mail Address: CHall@geh.nj.k12us.com

Charles H. Lockwood—Supervisor of Mathematics and Business
Mr. Charles Lockwood has been employed by the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District as a Supervisor since 1996 and has been employed as a teacher of mathematics and science since 1966. He graduated from Moravian College where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Pre-Med. Mr. Lockwood earned a Masters of Science Degree in Mathematics and Education from Temple University. In 1994 while continuing to attend Temple University he completed all his Doctoral courses, but did not defend his dissertation on Metacognition in Mathematics. During his tenure at Oakcrest and Absegami High Schools he has served 18 years as an assistant Baseball and Football coach and five years as the Head Football Coach of Absegami from 1986. He is a past Teacher of the Year, past President of OATA, past winner of a National Poetry contest, and has taught Mathematics at Richard Stockton College as an adjunct for 15 years. He is an avid New York Yankees and Eagles fan, enjoys crosswords, mensa puzzles, tennis, golfing, fishing, his family of three sons and wife, Justine.

E-Mail Address: CLockwood@geh.nj.k12us.com

Michael McGhee – Supervisor of Special Education
Mr. Michael McGhee has been employed by the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District since 2000. He has earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Rowan University in Criminal/Law Justice. Mr. McGhee has earned a Masters Degree in Special Education from Jersey City State University and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration/Supervision from Montclair State University. He holds a Teacher of the Handicapped Certification and a Supervisor/Principal Certification. Mr. McGhee has been involved with at-risk youth and teaching Special Education since 1993 on a variety of levels. He was employed as a Crisis Counselor and Special Education Teacher over a 4-year period at a Residential Facility. He was a Special Education Resource Teacher for 4 years at Cedar Grove Public Schools and for 3 years at Oakcrest High School’s Alternate Program. Mr. McGhee was named Teacher of the Year at Cedar Grove for the 2000 school year. Mr. McGhee coached football for 2 years at Rowan University, 4 years at Cedar Grove High School and 3 years at Oakcrest High School. He loves the team atmosphere and the potential offered at Oakcrest High School. Most of all Mr. McGhee enjoys spending time with his greatest love - his family – wife Dawn and his three beautiful girls Alexa, Olivia and Sophia.

E-Mail Address: MMcGhee@geh.nj.k12us.com

Mary Emilie Steinacker, Ed.D.- Supervisor of Social Studies and Performing Arts
Dr. Steinacker was the Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction and Technology Coordinator at Mullica Township School District for the past three years. Before going into education, Dr. Steinacker earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Law/Justice at Glassboro State College in 1978 and worked in the criminal justice field as the first Policewoman Reserve Officer in Glassboro, then as a Security Sergeant and Surveillance Officer at Bally’s Park Place, and finally, as the Rape Care Coordinator for the Atlantic County Women’s Center. Dr. Steinacker left the field of criminal justice in 1985 to work with children, and she entered the first Alternate Route Program of Education in the State of New Jersey. She taught seventh grade Science and Language Arts, and then third grade in Egg Harbor Township before moving to Brigantine where she spent the next 19 years teaching second grade, sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies, eighth grade Language Arts, and third through eighth grade English as a Second Language. During that time, Dr. Steinacker earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Rowan State College in 1994, an ESL certificate from Georgian Court College in 1998, and a Doctorate Degree with honors in Educational Leadership from Rowan University in 2002. She also received the Larry Marcus Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership Doctoral Studies in 2003 for her published dissertation entitled, “The Leadership Skill Development of a Middle School Teacher Through the Examination of a Five-Year Courtyard Refurbishment Project.” Dr. Steinacker still loves to teach and is currently an adjunct professor at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and for Montclair University. She previously taught at Atlantic Cape Community College, Georgian Court University and also for Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. Dr. Steinacker is an avid rower with the Brigantine Rowing Club and the Atlantic County Rowing Club, she is a pageant hostess for the Miss Brigantine/Shore Resort Pageant; and in her spare time, she enjoys playing chess, traveling around the world, and playing with her Yorkie-Poo, Coco Chanel. Dr. Steinacker is thrilled to join the Oakcrest family!

E-Mail Address: MSteinacker@geh.nj.k12us.com