Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Valley Stream Central High School District has a familiar name to its roster following the appointment of John Kostkowicz, as its new District Athletic Director.
This role places Kostkowicz, 48, in charge of athletics and physical education programs across the district’s four schools: Valley Stream Central High School, Valley Stream North High School, Valley Stream South High School and Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School.
A 1995 graduate of Central, Kostkowicz returns to the community where his athletic and educational journey began.
“I'm excited to be back in my hometown and to try to assist as best I can in a number of areas,” Kostkowicz said. “Between the quality of the phys. ed department, which is very strong, keep it strong, and also, the athletics, just build those up, keep them going.”
Kostkowicz succeeds Brett Kornblum, who now serves as Athletic Director in the Jericho Union Free School District. For him, the new position represents not only a professional milestone but also a personal homecoming. His lifelong ties to Valley Stream give him a unique perspective on the community, its schools, and the needs of student-athletes.
Raised in Valley Stream after moving there as a young child, Kostkowicz grew up immersed in local sports. He played baseball through the Blessed Sacrament league, hockey at Barrett Park and later expanded into wrestling, lacrosse and football as a student at Central. His commitment and talent on the mat and the field earned him recognition as an All-County wrestler his senior year, while he also captained both the football and wrestling teams.
Following graduation, Kostkowicz attended Stony Brook University, where he competed in Division I football. After completing his college playing career, he briefly entered the professional ranks, suiting up for one season in the Arena Football League with the Erie Invaders. Summers brought him back to Valley Stream, where he worked at the community pool as a lifeguard.
His transition into education began with coaching and support roles. He started as a teacher’s assistant at North, where he also coached football, wrestling, badminton and other sports. He went on to earn a master’s degree in physical education from Adelphi University and pursued certifications in school building and district leadership. In 2005, he became a full-time physical education and health teacher in the district.
Over the years, Kostkowicz worked across several Valley Stream schools, including Memorial, North, Central and South. His time at Valley Stream South proved especially formative, as he spent 11 years there, seven of which were as the school’s Athletic Director.
“I got to work with all the different administrators, and I saw that even though we were a district, there were things done differently throughout the district in the building and stuff like that, because every building is unique,” Kostkowicz said. “I learned to look at things in different ways and realize that there are options on how to run a class, on how to handle students, and deal with different types of parents coming from the different buildings; everybody's concerns are a little bit different. So, it definitely gave me a good foundation.”
In 2024, he took on the role of Building Athletic Director and Chair of Physical Education and Health at New Hyde Park before the opportunity arose to return home as the district-wide leader for athletics.
In his new capacity, Kostkowicz is responsible for overseeing four physical education departments, with each school having its own building athletic director who also serves as a lead teacher. Through them, he manages communication, budgeting, staffing, certification compliance and scheduling. His role extends beyond athletics, as he also oversees school nursing services, ensuring compliance with vaccination requirements and supporting the health needs of students.
Facility management and project oversight are also key components of his responsibilities. Recently, he coordinated district projects that included refinished gym floors, updated windows in several buildings and the installation of a new sound system at Central.
Kostkowicz’s vision for the district centers around strengthening ties between school athletics and the wider community. He wants to rebuild local youth and elementary programs, which he sees as essential for developing strong high school teams. His past involvement with groups like the Valley Stream Hawks baseball program, the Green Hornets, and the Lynbrook PAL Titans lacrosse program reflects that commitment.
Lacrosse is one area he is especially focused on. As Section VIII Girls Lacrosse Coordinator for Nassau County and a board member of the Lynbrook Titans, he brings both experience and connections to the role.
“That is something that's near and dear to me,” Kostkowicz said. “So, I would like to see that I see the potential in the district for a quality lacrosse program. We're looking at our coaches, we're looking at our community, looking to grow those programs.”
Kostkowicz also values the long-standing relationships he built with colleagues, many of whom were once his own teachers or coaches. Returning to lead the district where his journey began, he sees the role as a chance to give back.
As the new school year begins, Kostkowicz looks ahead with both professional focus and hometown pride. His return to Valley Stream represents a full-circle moment, an alumnus, athlete, coach and educator now guiding the next generation of students in the community where his own journey began.
