Lenape High's Cattani Wednesday named by state Board of Education '26 secondary principal of the year.

Tony Cattani, the principal of Lenape High School who last year was named the National Principal of the Year, on Wednesday was recognized as 2026 Visionary Principal of the Year for secondary schools by the New Jersey Board of Education.

Lenape, which serves Mount Laurel, is part of the Lenape Regional High School District.

"He is recognized for his role in supporting a positive and inclusive school culture where students and staff feel valued and supported," Karen Bingert, executive director of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, told the board at its meeting "Tony is lauded for his student advocacy initiatives, such as supporting Lenape's wellness room for students to decompress, launching World Voices Day to encourage students to celebrate their cultures and heritages and encouraging student leadership through the school's Passion Project Initiative and the Lenape Leadership Academy."

Bingert said Cattani, with support from faculty, parents and students, successfully handled one of the thornier school problems: Curbing student use of cellphones.

Last school year, Cattani "instituted a cell phone ban during the school day, which has actually been incredibly well received by all of those parties and that's saying something," Bingert said.

Cattani last July was named the national secondary principal by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.