By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– With the new school year starting yesterday, Academy of the Pacific (AOP) has announced new faculty and staff members at the Alewa Heights campus that serves grades 6 to 12. Elisabeth Case is the new Director of Institutional Advancement and is responsible for fundraising, writing grant proposals and overseeing the school’s special events, among other duties.
“Elisabeth brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and development to Academy of the Pacific and is a lead contributor in much of our communications,” said Lou Young, AOP head of school. “She also has a special place in her heart for the school because of the way we teach our students — a progressive, hands-on curriculum where no student slips through the cracks.”
Born and raised in Hawaii, Case is a member of the prominent Case family and a graduate of Punahou School. Much like the rest of her family, she is a passionate supporter and advocate of nonprofits and education. Case has also been an active volunteer at Hanahau‘oli School, where her mother was a teacher, her father served on the board, she attended and now her daughters attend.
Case earned her MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management in Phoenix, Ariz., and bachelor’s from Boston University.
In addition, the following staff members have recently joined AOP:
Jim Crum, Director of Technology and Digital Media Teacher. Crum is in charge of all technology matters including upgrading the school’s technology infrastructure and implementing the upcoming 1:1 iPad program. He is a member of IDEAS (Integration of Digital Education Assistance for Students) and brings to AOP six years of technology and computer consulting experience.
JoAnn Jacobs, iPad Specialist and Teacher of Social Studies, Yearbook, Photo and Video, and Computers. Jacobs has more than 30 years of educational experience and was previously Hongwanji Mission School’s curriculum coordinator and project leader for Schools of the Future.
Kelly Holmes, Director of Admissions. Holmes is responsible for new student admissions, college counseling and alumni relations. She was formerly the director of high school placement and associate director of admissions at schools in California.
Jane Amano, Business Manager. Amano oversees all accounting and human resource functions for AOP. She previously served as chief financial officer for Security Systems Hawaii, Inc.
Kathryn Derrah, Teacher of Spanish, U.S. History, and American Studies. Derrah was previously at Punahou School and brings a wealth of national and international experience. Before moving to Hawaii, Derrah served in AmeriCorps and taught in New York City and Tanzania.
Shana Gist, English Teacher. Gist previously taught at the Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School. She also served as a teacher specialist and oversaw the special education department.
John Hagen, Teacher of Drama and Music. Hagen is also an adjunct professor of music at Hawaii Pacific University. He was previously the chorus director for Our Savior Lutheran Church in Aiea and afterschool arts director at Mokapu Elementary.
About Academy of the Pacific
Since 1961, Academy of the Pacific has provided a nurturing and personalized educational experience that addresses each student’s unique needs and abilities that are often unmet in conventional classrooms. Located on a lush four-acre campus in Alewa Heights and featuring cottage classrooms, the school delivers a 21st century revolutionary program to about 100 co-ed students in grades 6 to12 and has a 1:9 teacher-to-student ratio.
Accredited by Western Association of Schools & Colleges and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, this “Village of Learning” offers Advanced Placement and honors classes and emphasizes collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking. Academy of the Pacific is the only Hawaii school to teach the Green Education Foundation’s Green Building Course and has been selected by the Hawaii Community Foundation as one of its “Schools of the Future.”
Academy of the Pacific accepts applications year-round. For more information on this “Small School With a Big Impact,” visit www.AOP.net or call (808) 595-6359.