Making an Impact

12/21/2023

Before I dive in for this week, for all those who were a part of our Nā Pua Keiki and Elementary Sing-along, I hope you had as much fun as I did! If you couldn't be there or you want to relive it with your child/children, be sure to checkout the recording from our livestream! Big congrats to all the teachers, students, and especially Ms. Sun (formerly Ms. Peralta) who made such a wonderful morning possible.

OK...now on to some thoughts I'd like to share...I know, I know. I write a lot, so thank you for bearing with me and knowing it's because there's so much to share and I so quickly have become passionate about big matters for Island School.

Every time I move through an area of our Kaua'i community, I meet someone with direct connections to Island School. For a school with just under 500 students, we have quite a wide network across Kaua‘i. Be it a dance recital, ho'ike, farmer's market, or even light show at Kukui Grove...Island School is everywhere!

Perhaps you saw the piece earlier this week that highlighted Joshua Brown-Clay, Island School board member, alumnus, and parent of Island School students, Clara '24, Charlotte '32, and Cyril '31. But before I met Josh this fall, I met his brother Jesse, also an Island School alumnus, this summer. Milo (my 7th Grader) and I were walking through the Puhi Farmers Market, and right before our eyes was the Compost Kaua‘i tent that answered a question he had been pondering the night before. What do we do with our green waste from our kitchen? You see, we had moved just a few weeks earlier, and we didn’t know what to do, because in California our green bin was our largest municipal bin, easily 2 times the size of our landfill one. So we walked over to the table, and there was a friendly person, sitting with a guitar, who looked up and welcomed us into a conversation. I quickly learned his name was Jesse Brown-Clay, that he had been a student at Island School and, through work with his teachers there, developed a passion to make a positive difference in the care for our environment. When I introduced myself and my role as the new Head of School, we were both excited about our shared connection to Island School. No surprise, I signed up immediately to be a member of Compost Kaua‘i and assured him I would pass along his regards to Mr. G. and Kumu Sabra, two distinctly impactful educators for him. I knew then, I was going to really enjoy getting to know how Island School grows such passionate community members and leaders.

And so, a couple of months into the school year, when I learned Josh Brown-Clay was nominated to join our Board, I was delighted. His perspective about why he and his wife Jill give to Island School speaks volumes about their commitment to our community and beyond.

"I give to Island School to thank and express my appreciation for the hard-working teachers, administrators and staff. They work long and hard to create an effective, interesting and supportive education for our children, the most important people in our lives and hearts. My wife was a teacher and I know how much work goes into it! However, they are underpaid for their education, experience and commitment. They could join a DOE school and significantly increase their salary, or find a more lucrative profession, but teaching at Island School seems to be something of a calling for them. This passion to educate our keiki should be rewarded. Additionally, if we want to retain these dedicated, talented individuals and attract enthusiastic, qualified candidates, we have to enable them to live (without working multiple jobs) in one of the most expensive places in America. To me, supporting Island School is rewarding because I have the chance to support this community where keiki can learn and grow and the passionate teachers that prepare them for a meaningful life of service to the global ʻāina that all humanity call home."

When faculty and staff read Josh’s note this week, many were moved and expressed appreciation that the struggle of what it means to choose to be an educator in Kaua‘i today surfaced in Josh’s sentiments.

The Board and I, along with all of our senior administrative team, are focused on how we must address these issues if we want to attract and retain the best team possible for our small, but mighty school. (See my “Good thing I like Puzzles” piece from two weeks ago.)

Your leadership and commitment to this community helps us meet the needs of our educators, helps us with our ability to serve an exceptionally diverse population both in terms of socio-economic background as well as heritage, and helps us to have the flexibility to create dynamic and enriching programming. (If you didn’t receive this, check-out this fun Middle School Semester 1 in Review put together by Stephanie Achuara, Middle School Division Director, on behalf of the Middle School team.)

And so as we close out 2023, thank you for helping us in your own way as leaders and dedicated members of the Island School ‘Ohana and the Kaua‘i ‘Ohana overall.

We continue to get closer to our aspirational goal of 100% of our families participating in the Annual Voyager Fund, no matter the gift size. Thank you to those who already participate, and we hope others will join us today and help make so much possible in this dynamic community.

Wishing you a joy-filled ringing in of 2024!

Together,

Nancy Nagramada

Head of School

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