Kevin Mabone, 56, said he needed time off from his job for treatment.
To help with his medical expenses, his students and colleagues raised $11,000 dollars. They also gave him a donated car.
You can imagine how deceived they felt when they found out his cancer was a lie.
"We're heartbroken - we're embarrassed. To know that he did this to the staff, he did this to the students, he took money from our students - how can someone do that?" said principal Leslie Feinglas.
It turns out, Mabone's illness was a cover story.
He needed time off to go to West Virginia to be sentenced for misappropriating taxpayer money in a separate case.
The school says his criminal record never came up during a background check.