Ronald J. Poorman retired from full time public school music teaching in February of 2000 after 37 years of service, the last 27 of those years were at Southern Regional High School, in Manahawkin, NJ. where he was nominated for the Princeton University Distinguished Teacher Award.  In 1999 he conducted the All-South Jersey Symphonic Band.  Ron served as NJ State President of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) and was a member of the NJMENC Curriculum committee which helped establish the music education standards for the state. 

    2002, 2003, and 2004 were spent building a concert band, pep band, and jazz combo at The Richard Stockton College of NJ where he was appointed Assistant Professor of Music. Ron retired in June of 2004. He is the author of a college text entitled Everyone's Guide to Instrumental Music Lessons and is currently working on a new book called The Instrumental Wind Musician's Desk Reference which will be released soon.

    Ron serves as Associate Conductor, plays first clarinet, and is the treasurer for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, posts he has held since the inception of the band in 1997.

    In additional he has many private woodwind students which he teaches at his home studio in Egg Harbor Township where he and his wife Karen reside.  Their home also serves as the business office for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble.  Ron is also active as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator.