Tom Roosma, the retiring principal after 19 years and one of the two founding teachers at Orcas Christian School, is pleased to announce his replacement, Kirk Haley.

Haley was instrumental in establishing the “Korean Advanced Preparatory Academy” five years ago in South Korea. This college prep school’s goal was to provide Korean students with the knowledge and credentials to qualify for elite university admission in the US. “We had over a 70 percent success rate for our students being accepted by the top 50 colleges and Universities in the US (ranked by US News),” stated Halley, “even though many were learning English as they started our program.”

Prior to his International Administration duties as principal and CEO in Korea, Haley was Dean of Students at Milo Adventist Academy from 1993-2011. He graduated from Walla Wala University with a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor of Science: Behavioral Science from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

“Academics, Music, Athletics, Art and Spiritual Development are all key ingredients but these also need to be part of a plan and goals set by each student and their families to be successful. Gaining knowledge is one of the first steps to becoming better community citizens, better businessmen and women, better husbands and wives, better mothers and fathers and learning how to contribute to society. This has been my passion and such a worthy goal.”

Haley will be joined by his wife Lynda and will be on the island the first week of July.