CEDAR CREEK HIGH ANNOUNCES FIRST PRINCIPAL

From Shore News Today, August 12, 2009

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – A vice principal at Oakcrest High School has been named Cedar Creek High School’s first principal.

James Reina will officially become the high school’s top administrator Sept. 1, according to a press release issued by the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Cedar Creek, now under construction in Egg Harbor City, is set to open September 2010.

The 39-year-old came to Oakcrest in 2001 where he taught honors world history and constitutional law for four years, rewriting the world history curriculum and the constitutional law curriculum as a new course during that time.

In addition, he taught summer enrichment classes for world history and was a new teacher seminar instructor. Reina also served as a soccer and baseball coach at the school from 2002 to 2005.

He has held supervisory positions during his time at Oakcrest in English, world language and history/performing arts, in addition to being an administrative leader in this year’s interdisciplinary curricular project.

Reina said his vision for Cedar Creek allows for all stakeholders to play a role in the establishment of the school as a community asset and a center of achievement, broadening and deepening the relationships between school and community.

His goals include challenging all students within a curriculum that promotes higher-order thinking skills, while maintaining student interest.

He will immediately begin preparation for Cedar Creek’s magnet programs, offering engineering and environmental science in a focused curriculum to students.

Continued growth in athletic and activities implementation at Cedar Creek will be a central focus, in addition to preparing students with technology and other skills they will need to be successful.

Reina holds a bachelor’s degree in history, secondary education certification, and a supervisor’s certification and a master’s degree in secondary school administration from Rowan University.

He and his wife Christine reside in Atlantic County with their two daughters.