Hawaii Catholic Herald
Seven Catholic schools statewide, ranging from preschool to high school, have new top officials this academic year.
Damien Memorial School, Maryknoll School, Sacred Hearts Academy, St. Anthony Preschool in Wailuku, St. Anthony School in Kailua, St. Patrick School and St. Theresa School in Kekaha all have new administrators.
In Wailuku, Kimberly Smith is the new preschool director at St. Anthony Preschool. At St. Patrick School, Shireen A. Santiago is the interim vice president and principal. And in Kekaha, David Verdugo will serve as St. Theresa School’s principal.
Pictured above are the new administrators at Damien Memorial School, Maryknoll School, Sacred Hearts Academy and St. Anthony School in Kailua.
At Damien, Pua Higa is the new principal and Wally Marciel is the interim president/CEO. Carol Chong is principal-academic visionary at Maryknoll. At Sacred Hearts Academy, Cleo Eubanks is interim upper division principal and Brandy Sato is the new president; and Jennifer Bryson is the new principal at St. Anthony.
Pua Higa, Damien Memorial School
Pua Higa was born in Honolulu and raised in Honolulu and Molokai, graduating from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola Marymount University, a master of education degree in teaching from UH-Manoa and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California.
Higa had served as assistant principal at Damien before becoming principal. Prior to Damien, she worked at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama in curriculum and instruction and as an English teacher, and also taught English at Waimanalo Intermediate School.
Higa said she is “blessed to be serving our students as well as the mission of St. Damien, St. Marianne and Blessed Edmund Rice. Damien is an amazing school with caring faculty and staff and wonderful students and ohana.”
Wally Marciel, Damien Memorial School
Wally Marciel was born in Honolulu and raised in Kailua. He graduated from Damien in 1979 and attended Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Before returning to Damien in a leadership role, Marciel was president and CEO of Palama Holding LLC and vice president/general manager of Jet Hawaii Forwarders.
Marciel said he is “very grateful to give back to the school that I graduated from.”
Carol Chong, Maryknoll School
Carol Chong was born and raised in beautiful Kalihi Valley. She attended St. John the Baptist School then Sacred Hearts Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Chong has worked in the Hawaii Catholic Schools system for over 21 years. She was an English teacher before her career in administration. She was first an assistant principal at Holy Family Catholic Academy then principal at St. John the Baptist Catholic School. Chong was the upper school principal at Sacred Hearts Academy before transitioning to Maryknoll School this summer to be principal-academic visionary.
Chong is excited to continue to use her leadership experience and love of Catholic school education to serve the students, families, faculty and staff at Maryknoll School. She looks forward to working alongside President Shana Tong and the entire Spartan community to support students on their faith and academic journeys.
Chong loves school spirit, reading and walking. She is married to Victor, and they have three sons: Guile, Gunnar and Gambit.
Brandy Ann Sato, Sacred Hearts Academy
Brandy Ann Sato was born and raised in Kailua. She graduated from Sacred Hearts Academy and matriculated to Chaminade University where she received a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and historical-political studies and a master of arts degree in secondary education.
Sato was the first in her family to earn a doctorate degree from the University of Hawaii in curriculum studies.
A lifelong learner, Sato earned her initial catechist certification from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, level 1 and 2 certifications in catechesis from the University of Dayton, as well as a graduate certificate in Catholic school leadership from Creighton University.
Sato has taught in preschool, elementary, middle and high schools throughout her 25 years in education as well as served in administration and on the board of her alma mater.
She will bring a diversity of experience to Sacred Hearts Academy from her work in a variety of schools and dioceses in Hawaii and on the mainland.
“I am a Catholic servant leader who believes that our preschool through grade 12 schools need to be rooted in our Catholic worldview and gospel values. It is through collaborations with students, families, faculty, staff, board members, and the greater community that we create a faith-filled, child-centered educational community to bring about the kingdom of God.”
