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Faculty

OUR faculty

Character. Heart. Excellence

Our talented and committed teachers provide individualized attention to help each student achieve his or her academic and personal best.

Alan Ching

Lead Teacher - 4G

Alan Ching has taught a generation of Hawks at Holy Nativity School, teaching since 1996. He enjoys teaching 4th grade and seeing the growth in his students, who take more ownership for their education, start to ask inquisitive questions and take more responsible risks in class.  He looks forward to their annual Big Island trip each spring, and enjoys coaching Hawks Athletics.  Alan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Redlands. 

Liz Cunningham

Educational Specialist - 1st Grade

Liz Cunningham has been part of the Holy Nativity School family for a major portion of her life. She is a graduate of HNS, and has worked as a teacher here since 1989. Liz finds it especially rewarding providing valuable “TLC” in the classroom and on the playground. Working as an Education Specialist, she finds great satisfaction tending to the smaller, but no less important, needs of the children.


 

Renee Eveland

Lead Teacher - PreK

Renee Eveland has been part of the Holy Nativity School community since 2006. Mrs. Eveland received a B.Ed in Elementary Education from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and has her certification in Early Childhood Education. She loves teaching PreK, providing a safe place where children are free to explore, take risks, make mistakes, and grow!


 

Maddie McGraw

Lead Teacher - 3G

Ms. McGraw grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana.  She attended Mt. St. Mary's University in Maryland for her undergraduate studies and recently graduated from the University of Portland with her master's degree.  Ms. McGraw brings a wide breadth of experience having previously been a learning support specialist and teaching middle school social studies.

Nancy Greenberg

Educational Specialist - 2nd Grade

Nancy Greenberg is an honor graduate in Family Consumer Science and over twenty years of management and administration experience. She is thrilled to bring her love of early education back to her hometown.

Petey Kaneshiro

Lead Teacher - Kindergarten

A transplant from New York in 1968, Anna Ruth Peterson Kaneshiro, known as "Petey," graduated with a BA from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Petey has taught a generation of Hawks at Holy Nativity School, serving as Lead Kindergarten teacher since 1989. She is also a proud alumni parent — her sons Daren and Dean attended HNS from preschool through sixth grade.

Dawn Robertson

Lead Teacher - 5G

I am so excited to be joining your school community as the SG teacher!
Throughout my 20 years as a professional educator, I have been blessed to
participate in many outstanding experiences such as co-creating an innovation
center and participating in a transformational STEM Fellowship. However,
nothing has brought me more professional joy than working beside young
people as they courageously learn, grow and develop. I am counting down the
days until together we can build character, heart and excellence through
hands-on, collaborative and personally engaging learning experiences.
 

Jenna Kieburtz

Lead Teacher - 1G

Jenna Kieburtz joined the Holy Nativity School team in 2014. She was born here on Oahu, but was raised in the beautiful state of Washington. Jenna received her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Master’s in Teaching from Washington State University. Jenna taught internationally in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China. She is grateful to have the experience working with the international community abroad. Jenna first grade students learn to be kind and considerate members of their community, while also embracing the many opportunities to explore, inquire, and develop their individual passions.


 

Shelly O'Brien

Educational Specialist - PreK

Hello Holy Nativity School community! It is
with a joyful heart that I am back at home in
East O‘ahu after a great big European
adventure. I am excited to join Mrs. Eveland in
the Pre-K classroom for a transformational
school year, and to have my daughter Mele
join the Kindergarten class. From a school
gardening teacher to an elementary librarian
and Enrichment Teacher, I have enjoyed
working with all ages over the past 20 years
including Early Childhood to lower
elementary. I look forward to all the children
and rainbows here in the little school in the
valley at Maunalua Bay!

Connor Torres

Education Specialist - 5G

Connor Torres is a proud alumnus of Holy Nativity School, Kamehameha Schools, and is a graduate of Seattle University, with a B.A. in Film Studies. Since graduating college, Mr. Connor has worked in education and gathered a newfound passion in providing a safe space for students and helping them become the best version of themselves, all instilled from the "Personal best" motto that was chanted at the start of every week of his elementary school days.
 

Dr. Kirtland Peterson

Lead Teacher - 2G

A graduate of Princeton University and Hahnemann University’s clinical psychology program, “Cat” Peterson believes in academic rigor and lots of fun. A change-of-career elementary-school teacher, Cat spent most of his professional life as a management consultant to Fortune 500 and International 1000 corporations. Arriving at Holy Nativity School in 2014, he felt immediately at home at our little school in the valley.  Dr. Cat strives to be good company for the right journey, acknowledging the journey is different at every age, and unique for each and every student.


 

Sakiko Sugihara

Educational Specialist - 4G 

Sakiko Sugihara has started her career at HNS as a counseling intern in 2016. Sakiko serves as both Education Specialist in fifth grade and teaches school-wide weekly Mindfulness to all HNS classes. She loves to help students succeed both academically and interpersonally. 

Robin Whalen

Educational Specialist - Keiki 3s 

Robin Whalen serves as Education Specialist with K3s. She initially started at HNS as a substitute, and worked in our summer program prior to joining our littlest learners in K3s.  Ms. Robin is originally from Mississippi so if you hear someone say “y’all” it is probably her! She is grateful to be part of the wonderful HNS community. 

Lehua Alo Williams

Educational Specialist - 3G

Lehua Alo Williams has been at Holy Nativity School since 1999. Born and raised in the islands, Lehua graduated from Punahou School, holds a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Chaminade University. Lehua is also a certified member of the American Montessori Society, and enjoys teaching in an environment where children are encouraged to investigate the world around them, while also feeling a sense of belonging and responsibility to their little school in the valley.


 


 

Erin Zitz

Educational Specialist - Kindergarten

Erin Zitz has been part of the HNS community since 2010. Erin was a commercial pilot, has served as a parent volunteer, PTO officer and altar guild member. She brings a deep and varied expertise as the 2G education specialist. 

Jan Israel

Religion

After joining HNS in 2014, Jan Israel now serves as the Religious Studies teacher. She has thirty years of teaching experience, a Master’s in Learning Disabilities, and a family of happy HNS graduates and current Hawks.

Pepper Bunting

Physical Education Specialist and Athletic Director

Pepper, or “Coach Pepper” to students, has been teaching/coaching for 15 years. She’s passionate about developing a love for exercise in children. There are so many life lessons that can be learned through sports and team building!

Ashley Henry 

Teacher, Keiki 3s

I am excited to join the HNS team as a teacher in the K3 classroom. I am originally from Pennsylvania where I attended Chatham University. I moved to O'ahu and earned my M.A.T with a focus on Montessori philosophy from Chaminade University. In my free time I love to care for animals including my five cats. My husband and I love to SUP board on the weekends and we teach Ludo Sport Hawaii (lightsaber combat classes). 

 

Wenli Liu

Art Teacher

Wenli Liu was born in Shanghai, and raised in the small village of Suzhou. Ms. Wenli pursued Graphic Design at the Shanghai Institute of Technology, and upon graduation, she has enjoyed creating and teaching art, from preschool through secondary education. Ms. Wenli is also an accomplished artist, and has sold her art at MORI by Art+Flea, illustrated a children’s book, “Little Pua and her ‘Ohana Gone Surfing,” created textile prints for Fabric Mart and Tori Richard, and graduated from the Art of Education University with a Master of Arts in Art Education. 

Jordan Gibson

6th Grade

Jordan Gibson is thrilled to be part of the Holy Nativity School 6G teaching team.  He is a Behavioral Analyst with Island Behavioral Health. He enjoys teaching mathematical concepts and logical thinking skills to the 6th graders, and coaching the HNS Hawks Basketball team. Jordan received his MA in anthropology and education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a BA in political science from Yale University.

Lisa Fong Hunsaker

Music Teacher

Born and raised in Hawai'i, I received my Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Music from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. Co-owner of FONG Piano Studio with my sister, Robin, I have over 30 years of teaching experience as well as experience as a Registered Behavioral Technician working with autistic children. As Music Teacher, I am excited to share my love and appreciation of music with the keiki of HNS. I'm thrilled to be a part of the community and look forward to meeting everyone.

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