Cesa’s new title, effective July 1, will be director of athletics and district special programs. Cesa will supervise the district’s interscholastic athletic program, as well as all K-12 physical education and health department staff members, which were tasks handled by Gary Farishian, who retires in June.
But Cesa will also be given responsibility for the district’s Health Services Department, including school nurses and support staff, the peer leadership programs and co-curricular activities, as well as administrative oversight for the district’s harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) program.
“Upon identifying the needs of the Verona Public Schools and the necessary qualities in a candidate for this new role, I approached Mr. Cesa because his extensive administrative experience, knowledge of the Verona community, and over ten years as a high school coach make him an excellent selection as Director of Athletics and District Special Programs,” said Superintendent Rui Dionisio in a statement. “We look forward to his collaboration on the design and implementation of innovative programs to engage young people in health, wellness, and athletics. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Cesa on his new appointment.”
The change means that Verona is also opening a search for a new high school principal, and Dionisio said after the BOE meeting that he hoped the new principal would be in place by early August.
Cesa, who started teaching in 1983, came to VHS as assistant principal in 1993 and was named principal in January 1996. A year later, he left Verona for a stint in human resources at a private corporation. He returned to VHS as vice principal in November 1999 and became principal again in 2003. Dionisio noted at the meeting that Cesa, who had been an athlete in college, also had experience coaching football, baseball and track.
