Geoffrey Haines Hired as Principal of Intermediate School

The Ocean City School District hired Geoffrey Haines as the new principal of the Ocean City Intermediate School.

He will start his new job in the middle of September and will earn $102,000 annually.

Haines comes from Galloway Township Middle School, where he served as an assistant principal for the past five years. He worked with seventh- and eighth-graders there and said he is excited to work in Ocean City with students in grades four through eight.

Haines has a master's degree from Rowan University and has coached and been a referee for many sports in the community.

He will replace William Boyle, who has served as in interim principal since the retirement of Pamela Vaughan after the end of the 2010-11 school year.

Haines stepped into the Intermediate School for the first time on Thursday for a fourth-grade orientation. He introduced himself to parents and students and made a small speech.

"I have butterflies right now, because it is my first time speaking to the fourth grade," Haines said in an introductory speech. "I have a lot of experience, and I cannot be happier to be here. It is a great school district. I know we are going to have a wonderful year. I'm looking forward to seeing and meeting everyone one of you."

Haines lives in Northfield and taught in the Egg Harbor Township School District before he became an administrator.

"It was my first day in the building, but I am ready to go," Haines said. "I met the PTA president and I look forward to working with their events. I thought Galloway schools had a lot of activities, but this school has much more diversity and many more things to do. I saw sign language was among them. It will draw kids in and it will be exciting."