Page 4 • Wednesday , December 1 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Cappuccio is president / head of school at St . Joseph Academy
CAPPUCCIO , from Page 1 sity of London .
“ I always tell my students : don ’ t be afraid to go study overseas . It ’ s quite an eye-opening experience and makes you more worldly ; you see other cultures ,” Cappuccio said .
While attending Mt . St . Mary ’ s University , Cappuccio said that he coached football and substitute taught at a school near the university . After graduation , he taught at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken , N . J . before beginning his tenure at St . Augustine Preparatory School .
“ I did just about everything , from head football coach to assistant baseball coach to fencing coach . It was neat ; I had to step in for a coach who stepped away , and the kids didn ’ t have anybody . Myself and a colleague stepped in , and it was one of those unique moments in education that you never thought you ’ d be doing ,” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio also moderated several clubs , like the school ’ s academic team and model congress , among other activities .
“ It was a great experience in regards to student life and academics . I ran trips all over the world , like South Africa , a leadership trip in Disney , Costa Rica ; we ’ ve gone all over the world ,” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio served as the school ’ s assistant dean of academics before becoming the dean of enrollment management , which he said dealt with admissions and financial aid .
“ I served that role for eight years then transitioned to the dean of academics , which is more of the school operation / principal role . St . Augustine doesn ’ t have a principal , so the dean of academics kind of serves as the principal , and I was doing that for the past four years ,” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio said that his current position at St . Joseph Academy was “ not on my radar .”
“ I loved my time at St . Augustine Prep ; I loved the people there . It was a wonderful experience , but when this was presented to me , there was just something that called me to this . I was aware of St . Joseph Academy — I actually went to St . Joe , from kindergarten through tenth grade — all of my family are St . Joe graduates except me ,” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio said that when he received a call from Jeff Umosella — the president of St . Joseph Academy ’ s board of trustees — to meet , there was “ something that drew me to this idea of this blank canvas that exists at St . Joe Academy .”
“ I would have the ability — with the help of others , of course — to build something special and something lasting and something meaningful . My ambition was always to be a president or head of school , so my wife and I talked about it a lot . I prayed about it a lot . I knew I would never get this opportunity in this area , because the majority of independent schools are outside Philadelphia , in North Jersey or down by Delaware . This enabled the best of both worlds where I can sink my teeth into this job and live close to home ,” Cappuccio said .
All of those factors , Cappuccio said , led him to accept the position .
“ I am pleasantly surprised of what it was . I didn ’ t know what I was walking into ; I had an idea —
I knew there were some things that needed tending to , because they did have a little bit of a lapse in leadership , but everyone ’ s been very welcoming . The kids have been great . That ’ s where I knew I was going to be OK . After my first day , I went home and I my wife asked what I thought . I said , ‘ Well , I like the kids , so I ’ m going to be OK ,’” Cappuccio said .
Cappuccio described some of the duties in his new position as president / head of school .
“ Usually , in most schools , you See SJA , Page 20