The Washington Township Public Schools announced the appointment of George R. Passante III to the position of Assistant Principal (Director of Athletics) at Washington Township High School. Passante replaced retiring administrator Kevin P. Murphy, who served in the role for 24 years. Passante’s appointment was approved by the Washington Township Board of Education at its July 28th public meeting.
Passante brings more than 25 years of experience to his new position. As an educator, Mr. Passante has taught Special Education in Washington Township and at Kingsway Regional, and subsequently worked as an Assistant Principal at Kingsway High School, Delsea High School, Bunker Hill Middle School in Washington Township, and Washington Township High School. Passante has extensive experience in athletics, both as an athlete and as a coach, making him the perfect fit in his new role.
“Mr. Passante is a dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented administrator. He has a genuine way of connecting with students, staff, and families,” WTHS Executive Principal Raymond F. Anderson III said. “He truly loves both our WTHS community and Washington Township at large. He has achieved a lifelong dream in becoming the athletic director here at WTHS. We are proud of his accomplishments, and wish him continued success and happiness in his new role.”
Passante most recently served as Assistant Principal at Washington Township High School, where he oversaw student discipline for over 500 students, co-supervised the Physical Education Department, and coordinated the school’s crisis response plan. Across previous leadership roles in his career, Passante has chaired 504 and Intervention & Referral Services (IR&S) teams, led district-wide bullying prevention initiatives, and evaluated faculty using instructional frameworks including Marzano, Danielson, and McREL.
In addition to strong administrative expertise, Passante possesses a rich background in special education and athletics. He spent a decade as a self-contained special education teacher while simultaneously serving as Assistant to the Athletic Director at Kingsway High School. During his career, Passante has coached varsity and youth athletics across multiple sports, including basketball, baseball, football, and softball, where he was a part of multiple sectional championships and one state championship.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Murphy for his 24 years of dedication and outstanding leadership in our school and community,” Passante said. “Filling his shoes will be an immense task, but I am extremely excited for this opportunity. I look forward to doing everything in my power to ensure the proud athletic traditions of Washington Township remain a pillar of this community for years to come.”
Passante holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Wilmington University, a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and completed the New Jersey Teacher Certification Program at Rutgers University. He holds New Jersey Standard Certificates as a Principal, Supervisor, and as a Teacher of the Handicapped. Passante is an active member of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
The Washington Township Public Schools and Board of Education also recently approved the appointments of two assistant principals at the preschool levels. Bridget Bollendorf is the new assistant principal at Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center, while Melissa McMahon has been named interim assistant principal at Walls Elementary School.
“We are thrilled to have Bridget Bollendorf join our preschool administrative team and to have Melissa McMahon step up into an assistant principal position,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Tricia Holmes said. “Bridget and Melissa are strong leaders with a passion for early childhood education. We look forward to having them lead their buildings and staff as we provide preschool education to every child in Washington Township.”
Bridget Bollendorf brings 13 years of educational experience to her role as assistant principal at Grenloch Terrace. She started her career in Philadelphia before spending nine years in Winslow Township as a classroom teacher and reading development teacher. At Winslow, Bollendorf was named the district’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Most recently, she served as a first-grade teacher in the Clayton Public Schools while completing her administrative internship and earning her Master’s degree in School Leadership from Wilmington University.
A graduate of Kutztown University with certifications in Early Childhood Education and Special Education, Bollendorf has experience in general education, special education, literacy intervention, differentiated instruction, and school leadership. Her return to Washington Township is especially meaningful, as she is a 2009 Washington Township High School graduate who began her own educational journey as a kindergarten student at Grenloch Terrace.
Bollendorf is excited to return to the community that helped shape her as both a student and educator, and to support the continued growth of Washington Township’s preschool program.
Seasoned early childhood educator and administrator Melissa McMahon has assumed interim building leadership at WTPS’s newest in-district location, Walls Elementary School. Bringing 16 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education and district leadership, McMahon transitions into her role following a successful tenure as Washington Township’s Preschool Program Supervisor at Grenloch Terrace. Since 2022, she has played a pivotal role in operational planning, budgeting, and ensuring full compliance with New Jersey Department of Education regulations across provider preschools.
McMahon’s administrative career is built on years of classroom instruction in the Vineland Public Schools (2009-22) as a preschool, in-class resource, and kindergarten teacher, providing a strong foundation in early childhood development and inclusive education.
“Stepping into Walls Preschool is an exciting opportunity to help shape Washington Township’s newest early learning environment,” McMahon said. “I look forward to collaborating with our staff, administrators, and families to ensure our young learners receive a high-quality educational experience.”
