With the upcoming school year, middle school principal Joseph Antonio will be transitioning to high school principal, currently held by Joseph Koch, as Koch will be stepping into the role of assistant head of school for advancement in place of head of school for advancement Marc Khedouri.
Current middle school principal and math teacher Joseph Antonio has already started making his first steps into becoming the next high school principal. Aside from his daily prayer, he has had one-on-one meetings with almost everyone on the high school leadership team, consisting of grade chairs, deans, counselors, the assistant principal, and high school principal Joseph Koch. These meetings highlight not only the multiple aspects of the job, but also the differences from the middle school position. Outside of these meetings, Antonio has spent a significant amount of time asking people on campus what people love about the high school, how people would characterize the culture behind the students, and what the student body loves about Koch’s leadership.
Current middle school principal, and future high school principal Joseph Antonio.
Though he is ecstatic about his new role, Antonio is sad to leave some things behind. When asked what he will miss the most about his current role Antonio said, “One of the hardest parts about the decision is that I love middle school students, giving high fives in the hallway, and all the silly conversations that go along with each of those interactions, whether that’s in the classroom or in my office. I also love our teachers. I’ll miss our leadership team and just the broad faculty as we’ve spent so much time together in my ten years as principal, and I have such high regard for them.”
As Antonio steps into the role of high school principal, he brings with him the strengths and experiences that defined his leadership in middle school. His relationally-driven style built on trust, genuine connection, and consistent presence will live on in the high school. These qualities have already shaped the middle school where students feel known and supported, and he plans to change nothing of that matter in his transition. Over the years, Antonio has shown that he leads not only with strategy, but with heart. God has wired him with a remarkable amount of passion, energy, and joy, and these traits have allowed him to inspire both students and staff through seasons of growth and challenge. As he transitions to the high school level, this combination of relational leadership and contagious enthusiasm will equip him to guide older students.
With Antonio taking the title of high school principal, current high school principal Joseph Koch will be stepping up in the administration to assistant head of school for advancement. When asked what he will miss the most about his current position, Koch said, “I am really going to miss the interactions with the student body. It’s not like I’m leaving Wesleyan, but what I’ve learned over my years in schooling is the higher you move up the administrative ladder, the less interaction you have with students. But even though I won’t get much face to face, I will have the opportunity to make choices that affect the greater good of the students.” Koch will deeply miss the student interactions but is excited to benefit them off campus. Koch has been collecting research on other schools to see how their head of school for advancements operate. On campus, Koch and current assistant head of school for advancement Marc Khedouri have been meeting regularly to look at specific aspects of the job to better prepare himself for his new duties.
Current high school principal and future assistant head of school Joseph Koch.
While he will be deeply missed as high school principal, Koch has been working hard to ensure he has the qualifications needed to be assistant head of school for advancement, and the students are happy to have a leader such as him to make decisions to benefit them.
Though Marc Khedouri is stepping down, he isn’t completely retiring. He will continue working on strategy issues, mentoring teachers, and helping fundraising and coaching varsity football. When asked what he is most excited about in his next step Khedouri said, “Not waking up at 4:30 in the morning.” Khedouri is going to miss being with the student and faculty body, but more importantly being able to see the joy in students accomplishing something like a state championship that they will remember forever.
Current assistant head of school for advancement Marc Khedouri.
Antonio, Koch, and Khedouri each leave a meaningful legacy in their former roles while stepping into positions that will shape the school’s future in great ways. With their combined experience and heart for the community, Wesleyan will be well positioned for years to come.
