TOMS RIVER – Thomas W. Resch, of West Creek, Eagleswood Township, has been named assistant superintendent of the Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools (OCVTS).

The announcement was made by William P. Hoey Jr., superintendent.

Resch, 53, was previously principal of the OCVTS Career & Technical Institute based at NAVAIR, Lakehurst.

The career educator served as vice principal of the OCVTS Toms River Center from 1988 to 1990. Previous to re-joining the OCVTS administration in 1999, Resch served as superintendent of the Eagleswood Township Elementary School.

A native of Tuckerton, Resch is a graduate of Southern Regional High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Arts Education from Glassboro State College, now Rowan University . He earned a Master of Arts degree in Supervision and Curriculum Planning from Georgian Court College, Lakewood.

Resch began his 28-year educational career in 1976 as an industrial arts instructor at Freehold Regional High School. He subsequently served as an instructor and supervisor with the Manasquan School District.

From 1981 to 1988, Resch was supervisor of the Practical Arts Department in the Lacey Township School District.

Resch is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star and the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal.

The administrator is an avid long distance runner. He was selected as Ocean County Masters Division Runner of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2001.

The Southern Regional High School Alumni Association enshrined him onto its “Wall of Fame” on the same day in 1993 when The Eagleswood Elementary School saluted him on “Mr. Resch Day.”

Resch his wife, Debbie have two sons, Jayson, 25 and Andrew, 15.

At a recent staff orientation session, Resch shared some of his philosophy of education with OCVTS teachers.

“Your students are our country’s next leaders. It is the responsibility of you and the public school system to produce competent, well rounded students,” Resch said.

“The students should become good problem solvers and explorers of thinking,” he concluded.