Cherry Hill High School East Gets New Interim Principal

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Dr. Neil Burti has begun his term as interim principal at Cherry Hill High School East ahead of Dr. John Cafagna's official takeover as permanent leader on July 1.

Burti, a veteran of the Cherry Hill Public Schools system on the elementary, middle, and high school levels of leadership, is currently the Director of Secondary Education for the district.

He will continue to fulfill his duties in this role simultaneously as the new leader of Cherry Hill East.

Burti, the 2024 New Jersey Secondary School Principal of the Year during his time at John A. Carusi Middle School, takes over after the resignation of Leslie Walker, the previous interim appointee.

Walker chose to step down on Feb. 27 to spend more time with her family, the school's newspaper said.

After Dr. Dennis Perry retired in 2024, Daniel Finkle took over as principal from September 2024 until November 2025 before resigning as the first interim.

On Feb. 20, Superintendent Dr. Kwame Brown recommended 27-year veteran of the district, Dr. John Cafagna, as the permanent replacement prior to officially being voted in by the Cherry Hill Board of Education to take over at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

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