Hawaii Catholic Herald
Seven schools across the state welcomed new administrators in the 2025-26 academic year — many are familiar faces on campus, and all have extensive experience in education.
The top administrators at three schools previously served in their positions:
- At St. Joseph School in Hilo, Maile Kipapa is now the permanent head of school after serving as interim head of school last year.
- At St. Theresa School in Kekaha, Wendy Souza returns as principal after spending a year in the classroom as a teacher.
- And at St. Patrick School in Kaimuki, Shireen Santiago has been made the permanent vice president and principal after holding the roles on an interim basis last year.
Elsewhere in the Hawaii Catholic Schools system:
- Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu welcomes new upper school principal Elizabeth Loehr.
- St. Anthony School in Wailuku has hired Mary Jean Bega to serve as its head of school.
- In Waialua, Saint Michael School’s new principal is Nicolle Baron.
- St. Philomena Early Learning Center in Honolulu welcomes Tiana Kalahiki-Bartolome, who had been the assistant director, as its new director.
Read below for brief biographies or messages from five of the new administrators.
Shireen Santiago
In a message posted on St. Patrick School’s website, Santiago welcomes returning, new and potential students and their families — citing the school’s 94 years of “providing a Catholic education rooted in faith, academic excellence, and service.
“We strive to nurture the whole child — mind, body and spirit — so that our students grow into compassionate, responsible and faith-filled individuals. Inspired by the hearts of Jesus and Mary, we encourage our students to live with kindness, integrity and a commitment to bettering the world through service to others,” the message says.
“At St. Patrick School, we believe that education is a partnership between families, educators and the Church. Our dedicated teachers and staff work closely with students to help them develop a love for learning, a strong moral foundation and the confidence to meet life’s challenges. We are a close-knit community where students are known, valued and supported.”
Elizabeth Loehr
Loehr was born in Ohio and raised in Southern California and Las Vegas. Her degrees come from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (undergraduate); Western Governors University (master’s); Creighton University (master’s); and most recently the University of Southern California (doctorate).
She taught at both public and private Catholic schools on the mainland before working with the Hawaii DOE: She was a teacher in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas before relocating to Omaha, Nebraska, where she taught at St. Cecilia Cathedral School and served as assistant principal at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School.
“I am excited to return to Catholic schools and serve the young women of Sacred Hearts Academy as the upper school principal,” Loehr says. “I have a passion for Catholic education and cultivating an inclusive learning environment rooted in the tenets of the Catholic faith and high academic standards.”
Mary Jean Bega
Bega was born in the Philippines and raised on Maui. She earned an associate degree from the University of Hawaii Maui College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from the University of San Diego, and is a national board-certified educator.
Her teaching career spans more than 31 years, mostly with the state DOE. She also taught at St. Anthony for two years after retiring from the DOE. Bega has been active in ministry at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Kula and for the Diocese of Honolulu for decades.
“This new role is not a job but a calling,” Bega says. “I truly feel that everything I’ve done in the past has led me to this point in my life. Leading St. Anthony will allow me to share the love that I have for God with the students, staff, parents and the Maui community.”
Nicolle Baron
Baron’s ties to Saint Michael School run deep: Not only is she a former student, her family members are also alumni. Her children are current students.
She graduated from Saint Francis School in Manoa and studied psychology and counseling psychology in college, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Her teaching background includes time at Pearl Ridge Elementary School, and 15 years ago she found herself back at Saint Michael in a teaching role.
Baron says she brings “a heartfelt commitment to creating a nurturing environment where students can grow in faith and excel academically. … Guided by this year’s theme, “Rooted in Faith, Thriving in Excellence,” (I am) committed to grounding students in strong Catholic values while helping them reach their highest potential.”
She believes deeply that God will continue to lead Saint Michael School forward into a bright and faithful future.
Tiana Kalahiki-Bartolome
Kalahiki-Bartolome was born and raised in Honolulu, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a master’s degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Her educational career began at St. Philomena ELC, where she rose from teacher’s aide to lead junior kindergarten teacher before taking on a new teaching role at St. Theresa School in Kalihi. After three years, she returned to St. Philomena in 2021 to serve as its assistant director.
“I am honored and blessed to serve in this role as director,” Kalahiki-Bartolome says. “It’s come full circle for me since I started my early childhood education career at St. Philomena ELC as a teacher’s aide and now I am honored to be the director here at SPELC.”