Welcome Back to Kaua'i Pacific School

Each year brings a new opportunity to further strengthen our amazing teaching staff. This year, we have moved some of our teachers into new positions and brought on some new faces to better serve our students.

Laura Check will be moving into the Early Childhood Program as a teaching assistant to Carla Bissell. As many of you remember, Laura spent about 18 months as our first grade teacher several years ago. She also has several years experience as a pre school teacher from Menehune School in Hanalei. Although we will miss her in the office, we are excited to have her back in the classroom. The office will be staffed on most days by parent volunteers!

Ryan McGill will be our After School Program Leader and our primary substitute teacher.

Robin Avina will become our math specialist teaching 1st, 3rd and 6th grade math. She will also be our technology specialist which means she will teach all the students technology and provide support to the teachers with their inquiry projects.

Christine Bandsma will be rejoining the faculty after a five year absence! Christine will teach the 5th and 6th grade and serve as our garden teacher. She attended UC Santa Cruz, receiving a BA in Psychology and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and began working on her Master in Education, then spent a year working in Indonesia. Upon returning she began a 10 year stint focused on outdoor and experiential education, first working on a research vessel for The Orange County Marine Institute. Christine moved to Kauai eight years ago to be near family. She has worked at Kauai Arts and Science Academy and Kula Elementary teaching the upper elementary grades. Her strength and focus is getting kids out of the classroom and into the world for an authentic learning experience. Christine loves to play in the ocean, canoe paddling and spending time outdoors with her family.

Sam Alfiler will be joining our staff as our new music teacher. Sam is a recent graduate of Oberlin College with a degree in Music Education and a minor in Chemistry. Raised on Kaua'i, Sam was actually once the student of Kumu Mauli Ola. Sam has recently served as musical director for Hawaii Children's Theatre for several shows. Sam is eager to teach the children keyboarding and ukulele while strengthening their vocal skills.

Joel Guy will be our Digital Media Mentor this year! Joel has extensive experience as a professional videographer and recently spent several months working on Oahu for Mina Morita to help her create short movies about issues facing our islands. Joel has lived on Kaua'i for many years and will bring an amazing perspective & expertise to our overall program.