School Leadership

Mrs. De Gaetano grew up in Appleton and is a proud graduate of Appleton East High School. She attended UW Stevens Point, where she earned her teaching degree in regular and special education. After beginning her career with the AASD in 2006 at Roosevelt Middle School, she earned her Master of Education in Reading through UW Oshkosh. She has served as a regular and special education teacher, a building instructional coach, and a Secondary District Instructional Coach. She earned her Principal and Director of Instruction License from eduCATE-WI. 

While not at school, Mrs. De Gaetano enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, going up north, and being on the water.

Mrs. De Gaetano is honored to serve as Principal of Appleton East and Tesla Engineering Charter School. As a proud alumnus of Appleton East, it is important to her that the Appleton East community and families are involved in our students' education. She believes students come to high school to explore paths in life that will give them a great starting point when they venture into the community. When students leave East, she hopes they feel as proud as she does to say, "Once a Patriot, always a Patriot."

Mr. Herrmann is originally from Appleton, a product of the AASD and a proud graduate of Appleton East. I received my Bachelor's Degree from Ripon College in Elementary Education and Physical Education and my Master's Degree from UW-Oshkosh in Educational Leadership. Prior to becoming the Activities Director, my teaching career began at Badger Elementary School teaching 5th and 6th grade before coming to East to teach health.

My wife Kayla and I have two dogs who keep us on our toes! Additionally, I previously coached multiple sports most recently with the Boys Basketball Program at Appleton North and the Baseball Program at Appleton East. I believe in the importance of strong extracurricular activities and the benefits they bring to an overall school experience and culture. The lessons students learn through extracurricular activities are invaluable and cannot be replicated in the classroom. 

Engaging with Patriots, past, present, and future, will be an early emphasis of mine in this role. I can't wait to build relationships with staff, students, and the entire Patriot community. 

My name is Kevin McElrath, and I have the privilege of serving as the Associate Principal for Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction at Appleton East High School. It’s been an exciting and rewarding journey so far, and I continue to feel grateful to be part of the Appleton East community. My wife, Kelsey, and I have two children, Jonathan and Hazel, who are proud Jaguars at McKinley Elementary School.

Prior to joining East, I spent thirteen years teaching high school mathematics in Hortonville and West Bend, followed by three years as a district instructional coach supporting all middle and high schools across the Appleton Area School District.

Since starting in the 2024-25 school year, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with our dedicated staff, connect with students, and partner with families and the broader community. I believe strongly in our mission to provide a high-quality education for every student. I remain committed to helping ensure that each of our graduates is prepared academically, socially, and emotionally for life after high school.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family at the pool, the campground, or up in Door County. You might see me running through the neighborhood, training for relay races in Minnesota and Door County, or one of the annual Fox Cities Marathon events.

Mrs. Waters grew up in Appleton and is a proud graduate of Appleton East High School. She attended UW Oshkosh where she earned her teaching degree in special education. In the early years of her career, she worked in both the Green Bay Area Public School District and the Oshkosh Area School District as a high school special educator. She began her career in the Appleton Area School District in 2007, the same year she completed her master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis through UW Madison.

While in the Appleton Area School District, she has served as a special education teacher, a building reading interventionist, and a district program support teacher. While not at school, Mrs. Waters and her husband enjoy spending time with family, in nature, and making memories through travel. Her two sons attend school in Appleton and are future Patriots. Mrs. Waters is honored to serve as Associate Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Appleton East. Ensuring high levels of learning for all students through a safe and welcoming school environment is very important to her.