The Rome City Schools Board of Education met during a called Board meeting to name a principal at Rome Middle School. The Board voted to approve the hiring of Christian A. Barnes who has served as the assistant principal, AP coordinator and discipline coordinator at Allatoona High School.

Barnes holds a BA in communications and a MA in higher education from Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J. and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Berry College in Rome, Ga. Additionally, Barnes has a certificate in school leadership that he earned from Wilmington University in Delaware, N.J.

Rome Middle School’s new principal started his career in education at Camden County College where he served as an adjunct professor in Aug. 2001. In March of 2009, he became the director of curriculum and later the principal at Children of Promise School in Clementon, N.J. He has also served as vice principal at Trenton Community Charter School (March 2010-June 2011) and interim principal at Freedom Academy Charter School (Aug 2012-June 2013), both in New Jersey.

Barnes began his work in Georgia’s education system in July of 2014 where he has served as the assistant principal at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga.  and of Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Ga., Currently, Barnes is the assistant principal at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Ga.

During his 22 years in education, Barnes has worked closely with system administrators to improve student achievement on state standardized tests, consulted with charter school start-ups, served on a discipline panel for the Cobb County School District, and has been a keynote speaker, contributing author and creator of workshops geared towards stakeholder awareness. Barnes is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

“We are thrilled to announce Mr. Christian Barnes as the new principal at Rome Middle School,” said Dr. Eric L. Holland. “He will be a wonderful addition to our Rome City School family.”

Barnes will begin his tenure as Rome High School principal on October 17, 2022.