Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Wyoming
RN Licensure in Hawaii

After Estrella received her degree in Nursing from the mainland, she returned to Hawaii and currently works as an ER nurse. She contributes to IPA over ten years of experience in Emergency Room and Pediatric Care.

Colleen is a founding staff member, starting as an aide in Kindergarten and assisting in elementary art. She increasingly played a significant and active, but volunteer, role in the interscholastic sports programs as IPA began to field ILH teams. Colleen has been one of our most enthusiastic athletic fans and now coordinates arrangements for school teams.

After working in the Admissions office for several years, Lu moved to the business office. Before IPA, she spent ten years in management and customer relations at Nordstrom, and another four years in human resource/personnel work for a large resort chain. She now applies her many skills to a variety of tasks in support of school operations and service to parents.  

R.D.H. Middlesex College

Dawn brings a broad range of experience and skills to IPA. She served as Assistant to the Dental Association Board of Directors and ran the Dental Awareness program for local schools in a previous community. Dawn has been an active member in a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Search & Rescue Team, and has operated her own yacht charter business.  

Having come highly recommended by an IPA parent, Nate began at IPA part-time as the hours of school building use were extended and the student body increased in size. Expanded security functions and general assistance needs of the school have led to Nate joining the staff full-time.

B.S. Curry College
RN Licensure in Florida and Hawaii

Aurora brings 20 years of nursing experience to IPA. Having helped to establish the protocols in the nurses’ office, she now shares nursing responsibilities with two colleagues.  

The study and preservation of native plants has been one of Rich’s career interests for eleven years. Rich came to Hawaii three years ago, thinking he would work for a landscape firm for a year, but Hawaii and its endangered native flora and fauna have enticed him to remain. In 2007 he was recognized with a Kapolei Outstanding Achievement (KOA) Award for turning the school campus into a fine example of how well native plants serve as a landscape option as well as a learning laboratory for students. Rich is a Systems Maintenance Technician through the Building Owners and Managers Association.

B.S. De Sales University, PA

Melissa worked for several years for the Parkland School District in Allentown, Pennsylvania in several technology-related roles. She first taught math at IPA and carried out many responsibilities related to the development and maintenance of the technology program at IPA, which led to her appointment initially as Director of Technology. She brings both a technically informed and creative approach to her support of technology services, and was instrumental in the redesign of the IPA website.  

B.S. University of Redlands

With a degree in Economics and Accounting with a minor in Business Administration, Kristina came to work for IPA after ten years of experience as a Director of Operations in Finance.  

Jaye can be seen performing myriad functions around campus. Students look forward to greeting him on the playground each day at recess.  

A.A. Regents’ College, NY

With a degree in Registered Nursing, Gail lends her nursing skills on a part-time basis along with her work at Kuakini Medical Center, sharing responsibilities of the nurses’ office with two colleagues.

B.Ed. University of Hawaii, Manoa
Professional Diploma, University of Hawaii, Manoa

A Honolulu native, Marlys has taught in several schools since 1991 and has held a variety of teacher leadership positions. In 2005-06, Marlys was filmed as a model teacher conducting student-led conferences, for a training DVD now used broadly on Oahu.

M.A. and B.A. University of Hawaii, Manoa

Megan graduated from Punahou School, and has a long association with independent schools. She came to IPA after six years of experience in school admissions work, most recently as the Director of Admissions and Marketing at Holy Nativity School in Honolulu. In California, she served as the Associate Director of Admissions at Viewpoint School.  

B.Ed. Melbourne University, Australia.

After teaching in the elementary division for two years, Sue began her tenure as Elementary School Principal in 2006-2007 and has led the curriculum development of that division. Having taught across the elementary grades from 4 year olds through fifth grade, she is a veteran of independent schools in the U.S. and abroad. She brings her previous experience in an IB school to the process IPA is undertaking to become an IB World School.

Wendy was born and raised on Kauai. An Aloha Airlines flight attendant for almost two decades, she brings a natural penchant for customer service and attention to detail to her role in the middle school.  

M.A. (ABD) University of Illinois, Urbana
B.A. University of Hawai’i, West Oahu

A founding member of the faculty at Island Pacific Academy, James coordinated the development of the Upper School curriculum and program. His teaching experience has spanned Pre-K through college, including several independent schools. In 2002-03, James was a National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana where he received numerous awards and recognition as an outstanding collegiate teacher. His passion, however, is teaching younger students. He is currently a member of the board of directors of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.  

M.Ed. University of Hawai’i, Manoa
B.S. Western Oregon University
Teaching Credential, Chaminade University

Cami’s teaching experience includes Chaminade University and middle school at Kamehameha Schools. A teacher and writing coach at IPA for five years, she also brings particular expertise in media literacy and peer mediation to her role as Dean of Students. She has several publications to her credit and lent her music writing talents to the composition of IPA’s alma mater.  

A.A.S. Hudson Valley Community College

One of the founding parents at IPA, Eileen began volunteering at the school. Since then, she has assumed responsibility for the Elementary School Office and Enrichment and Summer School management. Eileen worked for fifteen years in hospital administration in human resources before moving to Hawaii.
 

Salvador came to Hawaii after a career in the Philippines that put his architecture and engineering training to extensive use, including serving as the head of engineering and general services for a cement factory project. The care and dedication he brings to his work is evident across the campus.

B.A. University of Hawai’i, Manoa
Arizona Teaching Credential

Phavana has a particular teaching interest in reading and leadership, the latter deriving from her experience as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1996-2001. Phavana is a member of the founding faculty of the Middle School at IPA and served initially as a teacher and then Principal of the Middle School before assuming her current position. The Self-Study Chair for IPA’s HAIS/WASC re-accreditation process in 2007-2008, she now coordinates the steps IPA is taking to become an IB World School.

M.S. and B.S. Indiana University

With degrees in physical and health education, Ron returned to Hawaii after an illustrious career in teaching and coaching on the mainland that included building a highly successful swim program over a 35 year period at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame for coaching and was a five time recipient of the Coach of the Year Award at the university level. A founding faculty member, he has led IPA into competitive participation in the ILH, and was instrumental in the formation of PacWest.

Shannon brings many administrative support skills to her work at IPA from 10 years with a major professional services and accounting firm. That her previous employer gave her their annual “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” award didn’t come as a surprise, since she volunteered in countless ways around campus before being hired as staff.  

A.S. Kapiolani Community College

As a founding staff member, Kerri was instrumental in organizing the office systems at IPA, using skills from service at two previous schools. Kerri has performed more functions for IPA since its opening than can possibly be listed. She brings a familiarity with students and their parents and broad knowledge of the school to her current role in the Advancement office.

B.A. University of California, Riverside

Judy has served three other independent schools in California and Hawaii in positions ranging from instructor to Director of Admission. As a consultant, she founded a school for the children of a Native American tribe in Northern California and, with Dan White, helped lay the groundwork for a new independent school on Maui before beginning the process of founding IPA. Judy has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations.