Betsey Gunderson
St. Anthony Junior-Senior High in Wailuku, Maui, has selected veteran Catholic school teacher and administrator Betsey Hughes Gunderson as its new head of school.
St. Anthony’s school board unanimously appointed Gunderson, the director of curriculum at Maryknoll High School in Honolulu, after a 10-month long reassessment of school operations.
The selection process followed a series of meetings Gunderson had with parents, teachers, staff and St. Anthony board members.
The head of school post, whose primary duties are to oversee campus management and operations, was created as a result of the review. The current principal, Patricia Rickard, will continue in her position, concentrating on academics, ministry and student activities.
Gunderson started on July 22. The first day of school is Aug. 1.
St. Anthony is Maui’s only Catholic high school and the island’s only diocesan school. Bishop Larry Silva approved the appointment.
Gunderson has roots on Maui and St. Anthony where she previously worked as the social studies department chair, freshmen division coordinator and religion teacher. Her father Richard Hughes lives on Maui and several of her siblings graduated from St. Anthony High School.
Much of Gunderson’s 30-plus years as an educator have been at Maryknoll, her high school alma mater. There she was principal of the high school division from 2002 to 2012. She has been the director of curriculum for two years.
She has been a four-time visiting member of an accreditation team for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, conducting evaluations twice at St. Anthony High School in 2009 and 2012. Each time the school earned three years accreditation.
Gunderson is on the superintendent’s advisory group for the Hawaii Catholic Schools. She served on the diocesan Board of Education from 2007 to 2012 and on the diocesan Faith Formation Committee from 2008 to 2012.
The new head of school was a graduate with distinction from the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and Hawaiian studies. She received her master’s in education, curriculum and instruction from South Dakota University.
The chairwoman of St. Anthony’s school board, Catherine Nobriga Kim, welcomed the new administrator’s ability and expertise.
“As our first-ever head of school, Betsey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience ensuring we carry out the Hawaii Catholic Schools’ ‘Systems for Success,’” she said, “moving the school forward with 21st Century educational methods while also implementing balanced budgets.”
“We proudly welcome her to the campus and look forward to her leadership in carrying out our mission at St. Anthony,” she said.
The school also has a new mission statement: “Empowering Students with a quality, 21st Century, Catholic education in the Marianist Spirit.”
