Despite widespread community pushback and concern, San Jose Unified School District approved the appointment of a controversial new assistant principal at San Jose High School after more than a month of debate.
The district’s board of education voted 3-2 at Thursday’s board meeting to appoint former Abraham Lincoln High School principal Joseph Heffernan as the new assistant principal of San Jose High. Board president Teresa Castellanos and trustee Nicole Gribstad voted against appointing Heffernan, while board vice president Jose Magaña and trustees Carla Collins and Brian Wheatley voted in favor.
The decision comes as allegations — many vague in nature — that Heffernan engaged in racist behavior and oversaw a hostile working environment at his previous school have torn through the community.
Heffernan did not respond to a request for comment from this news organization but has firmly rejected the allegations against him.
Thursday’s meeting saw dozens of parents, students and concerned community members speak out against Heffernan’s appointment over allegations regarding his behavior toward students, teachers and staff, especially minorities, women and immigrants.
“It’s extremely painful. Many, many stories of pain and tears were shared and they didn’t hear it. It did not influence them at all,” said Stephanie Jayne, a parent of a rising senior at San Jose High. “It is despicable that these are our elected leaders who are supposed to be protecting our children.”
More than 80 Lincoln High teachers and staff sent a letter to Superintendent Nancy Albarran earlier this year imploring her to investigate Heffernan and his behavior toward students. And last month, more than 100 San Jose students, teachers and community members sent a letter to Albarran demanding the district rescind Heffernan’s placement at San Jose High and formally investigate the complaints against him.
In a February 2025 district investigation into allegations against Heffernan by Lincoln High assistant principal Neeraja Nambula, Nambula alleged that Heffernan created a hostile work environment by making inappropriate comments about politics and immigration, communicating with female staff and teachers unprofessionally and acting with a lack of professional courtesy, as well as an overemphasis on punitive discipline and “excessive and unnecessary bathroom supervision.”
The investigation’s findings – dated May 30, 2025 – found no evidence of misconduct or wrongdoing by Heffernan, although it did conclude that Heffernan discussed politics with Nambula, had strong expectations around morning supervision and bathroom supervision policies and that there was a “different perspective regarding Heffernan’s communication style” among male and female staff.
In a video message posted to YouTube earlier this month, Heffernan said the accusations against him are “entirely false and deeply troubling” and he and his family have been “deeply affected.”
“I got into this work because I care deeply about how young people are treated and prepared to live a life full of opportunity. No matter your place of birth, immigration status, cultural background, first language, race or identity, I believe every student deserves to feel seen, supported and empowered when they go to school,” Heffernan said. “I want you to know this: The claims about me being made aren’t true. They won’t stop me from showing up every single day.”
The board of education confirmed an outside investigation into his conduct at Thursday’s meeting. Trustee Collins said that if an investigation confirms allegations about an employee’s misconduct or wrongdoing, “the person would be gone.”
Gavin Rust, a De Anza College sophomore and staff reporter at campus publication La Voz News contributed reporting for this story.