By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Christian Brother Brian Walsh, president of Damien Memorial School for the past 18 months, “will not be returning” this fall, said Brother Kevin M. Griffith, province leader of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America in a June 25 letter to the school community.
Taking his place as head of school for the next academic year will be Kyle Atabay, current principal of Damien Memorial. Christian Brother Chris Hall will be assistant head of school.
Brother Griffith did not give a reason for Brother Walsh’s dismissal, a decision he said was made by the teaching congregation the same day his letter was sent out. However, the school president had been the center of public controversy lately regarding the elimination of many of the school’s athletic staff positions and graduation ceremonies curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Brother Griffith said that Atabay and Brother Hall “will work together to return Damien to the three-tiered governance model called for in the school’s by-laws,” re-establishing in the coming months the sponsor council and the board of directors.
Also, Damien will begin a search to find the school’s next president to start July 1, 2021.
In May, Brother Walsh abruptly canceled the school’s planned virtual graduation ceremonies after some in the senior class requested an in-person commencement instead. The president then reversed his decision after getting the students to withdraw their petition.
Earlier on the same day as Brother Griffith’s letter, Brother Walsh had announced in a news release that, in light of the uncertainties presented by the pandemic, “it seemed in the best interest of all involved in our athletic program and of the school, to inform some coaches that at the present time a position is not available.” Other news stories reported as many as 20 employees affected.
Atabay later rehired the head football coach.
In his letter, Brother Griffith thanked Brother Walsh “for his 18 months of service as Damien’s president.”
“He came to the school during a very difficult time that was made even more difficult by the challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
“I pray God’s blessings on all who hold Damien dear, as the school strives to live up to its reputation as a gem in the Hawaiian landscape,” Brother Griffith concluded.
Brother Walsh joined the school in January 2019 in a previous leadership shakeup. He replaced Wes Porter, named president in 2016, after the Christian Brothers then had raised concerns over the school’s direction.
“It had become apparent to the Brothers that Mr. Porter’s style of leadership at Damien Memorial was in direct conflict with the school’s mission as an Edmund Rice Christian Brother school,” the Christian Brothers said at the time.
Brother Walsh was described as a “career educator” with five decades of experience.
Porter, who was previously a lawyer and law professor, was hired in April 2016 after the retirement of former president and CEO Bernard Ho.
Atabay, a 1984 graduate of Damien Memorial, returned to his alma mater in 2018 to serve as its principal, replacing Christian Brother Daniel Casey.
Before that, Atabay worked 17 years at Kamehameha Schools, serving as vice principal of the middle school from 2013 to 2018.
He has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences and a master’s in counseling psychology, both from Chaminade University of Honolulu. He earned a doctorate in professional educational practice from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Atabay also studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and earned professional certificates from Hawaii Pacific University in the fields of organizational change management, global leadership and sustainable development, and national and community change and development.
