Gay ex-assistant principal says cherry hill schools retaliated after he was told to leave the identities at the door

Cherry Hill, NJ – A former assistant principal at Cherry Hill High School East is suing the district, alleging he lost his job after speaking out about conduct he believed was discriminatory and inappropriate.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Camden County Superior Court, was brought by David Francis-Maurer, who began working at the high school in 2023. According to the complaint, his contract was not renewed and he was placed on administrative leave after repeatedly raising concerns about comments and behavior by school officials.

Francis-Maurer, who is gay and Jewish, says the problems began at the start of the 2024–25 school year when principal Daniel Finkle allegedly told him to “leave his identities at the door.” The suit also cites a social media controversy in which Finkle appeared in a Student Government Association Instagram post lip-syncing to the line, “My pronouns are U.S.A.,” which Francis-Maurer said mocked gender identity.

Parents and staff allegedly complained about the post, but when Francis-Maurer brought the issue forward, the complaint states Finkle “brushed off” the concerns. Later that fall, during a student meeting, Finkle allegedly said, “I wear my Star of David on the inside, not the outside.”

Continue Reading

His smile wins hearts but Haze is still waiting for someone to choose him

Playful 2-year-old shelter dog is ready for a forever home JACKSON, N.J. — Haze has the playful personality,…

After his best friend was adopted shelter pup was left behind

Affectionate 7-year-old dog hopes for a family of his own JACKSON, N.J. — Hikaru watched his kennel mate…

Mount Rainier Delays Removal of Historic Elm Tree After Residents Object

Mount Rainier, MD - The City of Mount Rainier has postponed plans to remove a large elm tree…

The situation escalated in January, when a parent allegedly made “repulsive and homophobic” remarks about Francis-Maurer during a phone call. According to the lawsuit, Finkle dismissed the incident and told him to “investigate the matter himself.”

Francis-Maurer contends that instead of addressing these issues, the Cherry Hill Board of Education retaliated by removing him from his role. The lawsuit accuses the district of fostering a hostile work environment and engaging in targeted retaliation after he spoke out.

Key Points

Former Cherry Hill High School East assistant principal David Francis-Maurer is suing the district.
He alleges he was told to “leave his identities at the door” and that his concerns over discriminatory conduct were dismissed.
The suit claims his contract was not renewed in retaliation for raising objections.

The case places one of New Jersey’s largest school districts under scrutiny over workplace discrimination and retaliation claims.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.