New Principal To Lead Cranford's Hillside Avenue School

CRANFORD, NJ — A new Principal will be overseeing the Hillside Avenue School next year.

The district named Nicole Vaccaro, currently the Assistant Principal at Hillside, as successor to Kevin Deacon who is taking over as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The selection committee said that throughout Vaccaro's career, she has shown dedication to building relationships with students, staff, and families that align with student advancement in Cranford.

Vaccaro's academic career began as a teacher at Howitt Middle School in Farmingdale, New York, where she worked to secure grant funding and grow a summer program for at-risk youth. She was then hired to teach mathematics at Bronxville Middle School before being appointed Dean of Students within a year.

She held that role for two years before moving to Chairperson of the Middle School Mathematics Department.

Her career then brought her to Union County as a precalculus teacher at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, before joining the Cranford district in 2019.

Vaccaro served two years teaching math at Hillside Avenue School before becoming Assistant Principal in 2021.

She completed all of her higher education in the Tri-State area and holds a Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Science from Villanova University, a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from C.W. Post-Long Island University, and a Supervision and Administration degree from Hofstra University.

The district says she is "deeply honored and excited to continue fostering...connections as the new Principal of Hillside Avenue School and looks forward to leading the vibrant and welcoming school community."

Vaccaro will begin her new role on Jan. 1, 2026.

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