Mandy Thronas-Brown
Mandy Thronas-Brown began her new position as principal of St. Ann Model School in Kaneohe on July 1. Born on Kauai, she attended St. Catherine School and graduated from Kapaa High School with honors in 1988. She then attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in music in 1994.
St. Ann hired Thronas-Brown in 1997 to be the music teacher. She taught students from age 3 through the eighth grade and directed the school’s Christmas and May Day productions.
She also served as student council advisor, level moderator and summer sessions director. It was in the latter position that she realized she had the strengths to be an administrator and returned to school to pursue her master’s degree of education in leadership and administration at Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Thronas-Brown was named principal of St. Ann Early Learning Center in 2010. Her experience there, combined with her knowledge of the grade school, made becoming principal a natural transition.
The new principal’s philosophy of leadership is one of morals, teamwork and communication. Honesty, integrity and compassion guide her actions and decisions. She aspires to be a leader who can effectively motivate and inspire her co-workers and provide her team with thoughtful vision and strategic direction.
Thronas-Brown believes a leader in Catholic education must ensure that Catholic doctrine is interwoven throughout the curriculum and lived within the faith school community. She believes a Catholic school principal has the responsibility of maintaining, developing and sustaining the school’s Catholic identity.
Thronas-Brown and her husband Ryan are active parishioners of St. Ann Church. Their two daughters, Agnes and Emily, attend St. Ann Model School.