I am beyond honored to be the principal of Albert E. Kagel School, a K4 to eighth-grade bilingual learning community. As someone who walked these very same streets, played on these fields, and grew up with friends who live across from the school, this neighborhood is more than just where I’m from and where I work—it’s part of who I am.

Growing up here, I learned the values of resilience, hard work, and community. I was surrounded by friends who became family, mentors who believed in me, and a neighborhood that shaped my dreams. Standing before you as the principal of Kagel School, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and responsibility.

Kagel offers students a small neighborhood school environment with a strong dual language and traditional bilingual program to prepare students for an increasingly global society.

Every student who walks through these doors carries the same potential that my friends and I had. I aim to ensure that each of you sees the greatness within yourselves, just as this community saw it in me. We are more than just a school; we are a family. And together, we will continue to uplift, inspire, and support one another.

The pride of our neighborhood lives on in every success story we create together.

With gratitude and pride,

Juan C. Mejia, principal
Albert E. Kagel School