Cherry Hill High School East is getting a new principal after its former leader resigned amid a legal battle
John Cafagna, the current principal of Cherry Hill’s Rosa Middle School, will take the helm at East beginning July 1.
A longtime township educator will become Cherry Hill High School East’s new principal this summer, months after the former principal resigned amid an ongoing legal battle with another former administrator.
The Cherry Hill school board on Feb. 24 appointed John Cafagna, currently the principal of Rosa International Middle School, to take the helm of East beginning July 1.
“I look forward to providing operational stability, being the wellness guardian for our students and staff, honoring our great traditions, and leading us as we move forward together as one East, one community, and one vision,” Cafagna said, addressing the school board.
Cafagna has worked in the Cherry Hill Public Schools for nearly three decades, starting as an educational technologist and working his way up as a teacher, assistant principal, and, most recently, principal. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rowan University, master’s degrees in education and educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and Capella University, and a doctorate in educational administration from Capella University.
Cafagna will earn a salary of $200,000 as East’s principal.
Leslie Walker, a longtime educator who became interim East principal in October, stepped down abruptly late last month, according to Eastside, the high school’s student newspaper. Walker’s contract was set to end in June. Walker told Eastside personal stressors in her life prompted her resignation.
Neil Burti, Cherry Hill’s director of secondary education, will handle East’s principal responsibilities in the interim, said Nina Baratti, the district’s public information officer.
Cafagna’s appointment came five months after the school’s former principal resigned.
Daniel Finkle resigned in September after David Francis-Maurer, a former assistant principal, accused Finkle and the school district of discrimination and a “calculated campaign of targeted retaliation” in a lawsuit. According to Francis-Maurer, the district retaliated against him by not renewing his contract after he blew the whistle on Finkle for skirting school policies and engaging in offensive behavior.
Finkle has denied the allegations in legal filings, saying that he did not discriminate against Francis-Maurer and that the decision to not renew Francis-Maurer’s contract was due to “job performance and nothing else.” Finkle alleged Francis-Maurer was argumentative and made “egregious errors” as assistant principal. Finkle also denied allegations that he did not follow school policy when sensitive student issues emerged.
Cherry Hill High School East, located on Kresson Road, enrolls around 2,000 students in grades nine through 12.
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