Commissioner John Capizola Jr.
Commissioner John Capizola Jr., known to most as Johnny, is a 44-year-old proud resident, educator, and business owner in Vineland, Cumberland County. As a child, he attended Vineland Public Schools and now is a Health & Physical Education teacher in the district at Rossi Elementary School. After graduating from Vineland High School in 1996, Commissioner Capizola started his higher education at Cumberland County College before transferring to The University of Delaware. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Science in Health & Physical Education. Continuing his lifelong learning journey, Commissioner Capizola entered the Master's program in School Leadership at Wilmington University in Delaware. He completed the rigorous two-year program at Wilmington. During those bustling years, becoming a father, opened his first business (Parkside Laundromat in Millville), and in 2008 received a Master's degree with a 4.0 GPA while completing his Principal and Supervisor Certification in New Jersey.
In 1996 his first year of college, Johnny met his amazing future wife, Giovanna Di Dino, now Giovanna Capizola. Giovanna moved to Vineland, NJ, from Italy in the City of Messina, Sicily, to attend Richard Stockton College a few months before they met. Her family started a small successful pizzeria in Vineland called Pizza Bella. Years later, they opened a more sizeable location in Millville called Serafina's Ristorante & Pizzeria. Giovanna and Johnny worked at the family restaurants and later decided to attend college together at the University of Delaware. Johnny & Giovanna have been happily married for almost 18 years and, in 2008, had their son Marco.
After college, Commissioner Capizola started his career teaching health as a long-term substitute teaching special education students at Vineland High School North in the 2001/2002 school year. When a full-time Health & Physical Education position opened up in Atlantic City the following summer at Indiana Avenue School, he jumped at the career opportunity. After two and ½ years out of the county, he jumped at the chance to return to the Vineland Public School system and work for former commissioner/freeholder Mary Gruccio (Principal) at Leuchter Elementary School. A few years later, a large redistricting sent the staff at Leuchter to the new D'Ippolito Elementary school, where he taught until 2018. Five years ago, after another district reorganization with new schools opening, Commissioner Capizola transferred to his current position at Rossi Elementary School.
In his personal life, you may know him from one of the many different sporting events he has coached his teenage son Marco over the past 12 years. Some organizations include the YMCA in Vineland, East Vineland Little League Fields, Vineland Soccer Association, Vineland Basketball Association, Vineland Midget Football Fields, or one of the many other travel teams over the years. During the past year, he took a step back in the coaching department but is actively involved in all of his son's activities.
Besides teaching, the commissioner is a business owner and a bartender at a local Cumberland County Restaurant. His longevity in his current career and past jobs/positions is a testament to his work ethic. That ambition drives him in his personal life to be a great husband, father, and man for his family. He hopes to bring that same commitment to all residents and stakeholders in Cumberland County
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