Maryknoll School didn’t have to look far to find its next school president. The K-12 school has chosen Shana Tong, a 1983 alumna and long-time teacher and administrator at the Manoa-Punahou-area school.
“Though the world is navigating through a challenging time, we have renewed hope and energy for the leadership Mrs. Tong will bring to continue to move Maryknoll forward,” said Father EJ Resinto, pastor of Sacred Heart Church and Maryknoll School, and search committee members Paul Chinen and Alfred Wong, in a written announcement on Jan. 29.
The same day, the school also held a socially distanced ceremony in the school gym to introduce Tong as the school’s third president and first woman in the job.
“It is with great pride but also with a deep respect and appreciation for our school, and I am truly humble to serve as your president,” Tong said with emotion in her voice at her in-person introduction. “Remember though, one person doesn’t lead.”
She referenced her school team, the Maryknoll sisters, fathers and brothers who founded the school 1927, parents, students and the wider community as making up the core of the school.
“Together let’s bring Maryknoll forward,” she said.
Tong had been serving as interim head of school this academic year while a search was done to replace departing president Perry Martin. Martin became president in 2008 following Maryknoll’s first lay president, Mike Baker, who retired after a decade in the role.
Tong was also Maryknoll’s lower school principal before becoming its first academic affairs vice president in the 2016-17 school year.
She went to Maryknoll from kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated in 1983. Her two children also graduated from the school.
Tong has a bachelor’s degree in speech and communications from the University of Hawaii-Manoa, a master’s degree in educational administration from Gonzaga University, and a master’s degree in school leadership from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Tong has worked at Maryknoll for close to 30 years, as a vice principal and principal, elementary school science teacher, second-grade, fourth grade and fifth grade teacher, and middle school language arts, religion, Japanese and speech teacher. She also previously taught at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu and Sacred Heart School in Lahaina.
“She is what we call a ‘lifer’ here at Maryknoll,” Father Resinto said in his in-person introduction on Jan. 29. “Shana this is your time to shine and to lead.”
Father Resinto said the school is planning a more formal celebration in the future for Tong and offered her a blessing as she begins her new role.
