John Cafagna addressed the board of education last month. A district veteran of 27 years, he was most recently principal of Rosa International Middle School.
John Cafagna was unanimously approved as East High’s principal by the board of education at its Feb. 24 meeting.
“I want to thank the students, my colleagues, families, board members – who have taught me so much during my 27 years in this school district serving as a principal, teacher, coach and father,” Cafagna said. “I’m eager to utilize that knowledge and the new things that I will learn to help guide our next chapter.
“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, a township district veteran of 27 years, has most recently served as principal of Rosa International Middle School, beginning in July of 2024. He will take on his new role at East on July 1.
During public comment at the meeting, former board president Anne Einhorn congratulated Cafagna on his new position.
“I don’t understand John,” Einhorn noted. “When I said you keep getting younger and my gravity has just floated away, I hope you’re always on the uprise.”
Each of Cafagna’s three predecessors served as East principal for short periods, starting when Dennis Perry, principal since 2016, announced his retirement on Sept. 1 of 2024. The same year, Daniel Finkle was announced as Perry’s replacement, and according to board documents, was to serve from July 2024 to the following June.
A year and a half later, Finkle resigned for personal reasons, effective last November. Leslie Walker was named interim principal for East at a September board meeting. She was expected to fill the role until or about June 30 of this year, but announced she was stepping down for personal reasons last month. Walker told the Eastside student publication those reasons included increased stress as principal.
Finkle, meanwhile, was involved in a lawsuit filed last September by former Assistant Principal David Francis-Maurer, who alleged that Finkle had discriminated against him for being gay and Jewish. Francis-Maurer’s contract was not renewed, despite a student-led walkout.
Finkle was set to be principal of Hightstown High School, but the offer was rescinded because of the lawsuit.
Cafagna expressed interest in an interview for the principal, but only after spring break, according to Nina Peters, public information officer for the district.
