With the retirement of Dr. Perry last year, Mr. Finkle has taken up the mantle of Principal of Cherry Hill East High School as of August and was announced as his successor in late May. While it has only been a short amount of time since Finkle entered his new position, the changes are vast and already going into effect. Finkle was not always headed toward this route, but he could not be any more satisfied with his path. 

Beginnings

In total, Finkle has a background in education that spans around 31 years. He had initially started as an education major at Penn State but was unsure about the teaching pathway. From there, he transitioned into doing radio and television instead — but quickly realized that he felt more fulfilled when he was working with kids. 

“Getting into education, I swore that every kid that walked out of my classroom was going to learn what it meant to earn the grade that they got and not just be given something because they were nice,” said Finkle, reminiscing on the beginning of his career. 

Finkle started at the American Boychoir School, before going to work in private education at schools such as Wardlaw-Hartridge or The Hun School of Princeton. He mainly taught math and felt that his experience as a teacher from that time greatly influenced his approach to being an administrator. 

“[As a teacher] I realized I could do one of two things. I could go into the faculty room and complain, or I could become an administrator and change the way we do business,” Finkle added to this point. 

Thus, Finkle moved into the latter half of his career, working as an assistant principal at Livingston School District, and then progressing to become Principal of Delran High School. His experience at each of these schools and throughout various positions has substantially impacted his approach to Cherry Hill East, especially the changes he has made throughout the school. 

Finkle especially emphasized that the benefit of working in so many different positions is that he has come to understand the nuances of education, and how to make sure that each student has a chance to grow to their utmost potential. 

“Everyone comes here with their own history and their own issues and you know my experience has been with all types of kids in all types of environments,” Finkle remarked, explaining that his work in so many different areas of education, has added to his well-rounded view of how to create a successful learning environment for students. 

He wants to be collaborative, to the extent that both students and teachers feel they can reach an even medium with whatever policy they want applied throughout Cherry Hill East.  

“I want teachers’ input, I want kid input on, you know, many decisions,” he asserted, in regards to the environment hopes to create as an administrator. 

Finkle’s background is varied with arrays of experience, all of which are especially important to the impact he has already made at Cherry Hill East. 

Policy: Present and Future

Throughout the three or so months that Finkle has already been present at East, he has both been a vessel for changes and implemented his own. He plans to stay steadfast to the policies he enacts, and wants the support of both the faculty and the student body on these changes.

His initial impressions of East were varied, but according to Finkle, they were positive overall. He was pleased to see that East was a community that, “truly values education [and] that values collaboration, that values student voice,” which was one of his biggest concerns going into the position. He wants to see the same passion he feels for education exhibited by the students he is going to be in charge of. And if he can instill this passion into them, he will. 

There was a lot of talk about East and what reputation it had going into it, but he soon realized that despite the reputation the school might have, it is so much different — and better — in person. He stressed that while East has its flaws, there is so much more good to the school than most people care to recognize. Finkle wants that to be acknowledged, and he wants East students to recognize it as well. 

All of these impressions have influenced his approach to his first policy at East: Reshaping “Lunch & Learn.”

As of previous years, students had the opportunity to migrate where they pleased during Lunch Break 1 and 2. However, this was seen as problematic for many reasons. The idea of changing Lunch & Learn was present before Finkle took the mantle of principal. However, it has manifested itself this year and Finkle believes his reasoning behind it is more than sound.

“I’m responsible for everything that goes on within this building. And I may not have the ability to control all of it. But at the end of the day, I’m held responsible for everything that occurs here. So I have to try.” Finkle said, stringent on his position. To Finkle, the biggest issue with Lunch & Learn was that it did not account for the safety aspect of the school, which is his priority. Specifically, having students wandering the halls without a consensus of where they are is especially dangerous. 

He also understands that it is a drastic change, and people were used to the freedom they once had compared to the sudden change this year, but that everything will eventually meet somewhere in the middle.

“If students can think of a better way to do it, I’m all ears. I am. But I also venture to say that there are very few schools, if any, that just allow students to just spend an hour doing whatever they want to do.”

Finkle has so far been very pleased with the results of the new Homeroom system thus far. He says that it has worked pretty successfully. The second phase has just been rolled out, and while some uncertainties still need to be worked on, he feels this is a step in the right direction for Cherry Hill East. 

For the future, Finkle plans to continue making changes such as this when he feels they are necessary. But he does not want to make policy just to have it; he wants there to be meaning and value when change has to be made around East. 

He values hearing student input, especially whenever it comes to having to adjust something about the school. 

In terms of other new adjustments to East, such as the introduction of the new Coles Program students or the Cell Phone Policy, Finkle believes that it will take time to adjust just as anything will, but that students will come to realize that these changes are for the better. 

Especially with the Cell Phone Policy, Finkle commented that “[he hasn’t] heard one thing from teachers about any type of pushback really from students on cell phones. As a matter of fact, [he] heard a lot of students say how freeing it is now that they don’t have to worry about [social media].”

One of the goals that Finkle continues to strive toward, which is ensuring that all students have a safe and successful education, is part of the reason he is so supportive of this policy change. He feels that the students of East know that whether they like it or not, these changes uplift their education.

“I’m hoping that the policies will [help] make [East] just a more inclusive culture and make people a little happier. My hope is that moving forward we can be the best that we can possibly be. I think that the new policies and procedures should be able to help take us there.”

He has also made it a point to establish channels of communication to allow for this trust and respect to form: Instagram, newsletters, and more, for students to get information on all of the changes going on around them, and where they are free to see his thought process on said alterations.

This year is only just beginning and Finkle is already in the thick of it, but he is happy to be right where he is. His policies will evolve just as East does, and he is satisfied with the route he is leading his school down. Time will tell if the choices he’s making are the right ones, but Finkle feels certain that if the students and faculty give him their respect and their trust, they will receive the same back.

Mr. Davis

Mr. Davis, East’s previous Activities Director, is now serving as one of our Assistant Principals.  Before obtaining this position, Davis also taught African American Studies, Financial Literacy, and US History 1 and 2.  He is excited to have a more flexible schedule and believes it will allow him to meet more students, although it will be difficult for him to lessen his involvement with activities and events happening at East.  

Moving into the 2024-2025 school year, “one of [his] goals is to continue the involvement that students have in the building, even with the new systems we have in place.” He also wants to see physical repairs and transformations. Davis realizes that he is transitioning away from being the “fun guy” at East, but he is going to continue to be involved. He leads the SGA Executive Committee and will try to be just as present at school events as he was before.

Ms. Pereira

Ms. Pereira has been at Cherry Hill High School East for five years and worked in education for 16.  She’s taught chemistry and neuroscience, coached girls’ volleyball, and advised clubs.  This year she stepped into the role of Intern Assistant Principal.  Pereira has administrative experience at previous school districts which she believed would help her with this job. She applied for the position because she “wanted to be a part of a team that can help advance the culture here at East and make it the place [where] students want to be.”  

The biggest change from moving from teacher to administrator for Pereira was the schedule.  She no longer operates between bells or sections each day into teaching, prepping, and grading.  Now every day for her is different, whether she is examining data, walking the hallways, or meeting with students.  Pereira’s focus for the 2024-2025 school year is to make student attendance a priority so they can “soak in as much instruction as possible.”  She is looking forward to Spirit Week, Homecoming, and supporting East Athletics throughout this year.

Mr. Robinson

Mr. Robinson, a previous administrator in the Eastampton school district, has transitioned into the Assistant Principal role for the Class of 2028 at Cherry Hill East. Before joining the administrative unit, Robinson was a health and physical education teacher, as well as the Head Football and Baseball coach in Easthampton.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Robinson plans on “making the educational experience” for students. He is very big on building relationships and plans on interacting with students through being visible at school events, spending time in different classrooms, and hanging out in the hallways. Robinson believes that “once the relationship is established, we can achieve any goals we set for ourselves together.”

New Jersey has faced statewide teacher shortages over the past few years.  USA Today conducted a study earlier this year concluding that 86% of American public schools struggle to hire teachers.  These issues arise from numerous factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic forcing health-related early retirements, class size increasing, and stagnant teachers wages.   

Cherry Hill High School East has not been spared from the nationwide shortages that have affected schools. To combat such problems, the district hired nine new teachers and two administrators (Including the new principal, Mr. Finkle). 

Every student at East has been impacted by the changes in staff this year whether directly or indirectly. They may have met with new administrators or interacted with them in the hallways.    In these students’ cases, having them as their teachers.  

Max Ulloa (’27) has Mr. Setteducato for his Chemistry class this school year.  While they’ve only spent a month together so far, Ulloa has noticed how much Setteducato cares about his students and their interests.  “We talk about our weekends,” he said, “I saw him at Marching Band practice and we talked about the Buccaneers vs Eagles game.”  Ulloa also mentioned that Setteducato plays music while his class works and is very friendly.  

Sophie Rood (‘27) takes US History 1 with Ms. Cotoni.  When asked about the skills she’s learned so far this year, Rood mentioned good note skills, and how to recognize important information, alongside the curriculum material.  “[Ms. Cotoni] talks to her students…and is always willing to answer questions.  [She] teaches in a way that is understandable.”  

While these two students offer a limited look into the entire student body’s reception to new staff, the overall positive atmosphere at East this year shows that they reflect the favorable opinions of the larger group.

In one of his September Student Updates, Mr. Finkle commended the students on following the new procedures put into place at the beginning of the year and said he “appreciates the email exchanges and personal conversations that [he] has had with each and every one of [them].”

Ms. McKee in her classroom (Mika Bhaskaran (’27))

Social Studies teacher Susan McKee has worked at Cherry Hill East for 29 years. This makes her one of the most senior staff members in the building. While our new teachers and administrators offer a fresh perspective on East, McKee comes from an equally important place of experience.

In 1995, McKee struggled to get used to East because it was her first time working in a public school. Throughout her childhood, she had always been enrolled in private school and her previous teaching job was at a private Catholic school. She said it was intimidating when she started working here. “It was very big, and very crowded, and very loud, and I was used to the order and discipline of a private school,” said McKee.

These difficulties did not turn McKee away from teaching at public schools. Rather, they expanded her perspective on public education. Public schools can have more opportunities for students than private schools do, such as offering multiple AP classes, a variety of electives, and – in East’s case – over 100 clubs. McKee encourages students to take advantage of these opportunities as often as they can.

McKee also had to adjust to a new group of coworkers when she started her job at East. Though many of the teachers were supportive, there was an age gap that caused a slight divide between them. “A lot of the staff was actually a lot older, there were very few younger teachers,” she said. “I wouldn’t say it was difficult, but it was something to get used to.” Luckily, as McKee grew more acquainted with her colleagues, the ones with the most experience became her mentors and helped make her start at East easier.

During her 29 years here, McKee has worked under five principals, who each ran East differently. They also created new systems that teachers had to adapt to. So far, the most prominent change at East in the 2024-2025 school year has been the addition of homerooms to Lunch and Learn. McKee believes that the homeroom system is a positive change for East. “Even though students may not like it compared to last year, it’s actually really effective and productive,” McKee said.  She believes that having homerooms makes the school quieter and more orderly, which one can observe walking through the hallways during lunch. She also congratulated East’s new principal, Mr. Finkle, saying, “He really wanted to take some of the problems that we’ve had in the last couple of years and change them, and he did that right away.”

Ms. McKee has already met two of the new social studies teachers. She believes the new teachers will bring new ideas to East and will have a positive impact on the school. As they are adjusting here, advice she would give them is “work hard and do your job. Stay under the radar and do not make waves.”

 For the students who are trying to adjust to the new changes at the school, McKee says to look at it in a positive light. “Take advantage of it. It’s called lunch and learn for a reason…whether you are taking advantage of getting extra help or checking in with the teacher, you’ve got a test, [you’re] going to clubs, [or] even socializing with friends. Take advantage of the half period you guys have.”  

As McKee works through another year at East she is excited to see how the school year will carry on with the new systems implemented, and is optimistic about the new memories she will make with East’s new staff.