Building Administration

Mr. Kevin Mason
Principal
e: kmason@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 378 5216 ext 4501

Mr. Mason earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Morehouse College, MAT in Biology from Montclair State University, principal certification through the NJEXCEL – Program, and is currently working on his doctorate at East Stroudsburg University. Mr. Mason began his career as a Laboratory Scientist with the Department of Veterans Affairs before embarking on a career as an educator. Mr. Mason was accepted into the TRUST (Teacher Recruitment for Urban Schools of Tomorrow) Program at Montclair State University which led him to teach Math and Science in the Newark Public Schools. Mr. Mason then became the Lead Science teacher for his school and led summer Professional Development for the district. For the past seventeen years, Mr. Mason has worked with the South Orange Maplewood School district as a sixth-grade Math and Science teacher at Maplewood Middle School, Assistant Principal of Tuscan Elementary School, and Assistant Principal of Columbia High. Additionally, Mr. Mason is an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and site supervisor for student teachers at Drew University.

Mr. Anthony Cicenia
Assistant Principal
e: acicenia@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 378 - 5216 ext 4502

Anthony Cicenia grew up in Maplewood, N.J., and was a student at Tuscan Elementary School, Maplewood Middle School, and Columbia High School. He began working in the District in 1995, shortly after he received his B.A. from Seton Hall University. Mr. Cicenia has two Master's Degrees in Educational Leadership and STEM Curriculum & Instruction from Kean University, where he graduated with distinction and was also a recipient of Kean's Teacher of the Year for his work with infusing technology into the science curriculum.

Mr. Cicenia has had many roles during his tenure in the District. He began his career at South Orange Middle School as an ELL aide and shortly after, completed the alternate route to teach Math and Science. During this time, he coordinated the YouthNet after-school activities at South Orange Middle School and coached football, girls' basketball, and baseball at Columbia High School. Last year, Mr. Cicenia spent the final two months of the school year at Seth Boyden Elementary School as acting assistant principal.

Mr. Cicenia takes great pride in the various grants he earned in the District from PSE&G and Sustainable Jersey for creating environmental awareness curriculum, which centers around science students going outside the classroom and into the field to collect data on our local watershed. Through this work, South Orange Middle School became the first school in Essex County to earn the "River Friendly" certification.

In his new role as assistant principal at South Mountain School and Annex, Mr. Cicenia is looking forward to partnering with all of the students, parents, and staff of the South Mountain family.