Middle School Teachers

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Name: Holly Baker
Title: MS Drama Teacher

Profile

Holly was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Kokomo, Indiana. She studied theater at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and then went on to appear in many television shows " in the 80's" in Los Angeles. She holds a BA from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa where she double majored in Drama and Psychology, with a focus on NeuroScience. Holly made her broadway debut in RENT at the Nederlander Theater in NYC in 2007. She serves on the board of Waimea Community Theater. Holly is part Native American and is a Traditional dancer at Pow-wow's. She is married to Joe Baker and has two children.

Name: Sue Boyum
Title: Performing Arts K-12

Profile

Since moving to Kona six years ago Sue has been very involved in the arts community. She started the award winning Performing Arts at Innovations Public Charter School where she introduced their FAME (Fine Arts Mentorship Experience) program which most recently produced "The Music Man Jr" at the Aloha Theatre. In the community she works with the Kona Music Society co-directing the Youth Chorus as well as preparing West Hawaii vocal students for All State Honor Choir. You've also likely seen Sue on the stage or her work behind the scenes with the Aloha Performing Arts Company. Most recently Sue directed "Alice in Wonderland, Jr.". Sue is very excited to share her knowledge and passion for the arts with the students of Hualalai Academy. She will be working closely with the elementary teachers and plans to incorporate their units of study into song, dance and drama for deeper meaning and to help her students see how everything is connected. In addition she'll work along with Holly Baker developing a theatre program for the middle and high school students culminating in a main stage show!

Name:
Title: Visual Arts K-12

Profile

Hadley graduated with a B.F.A. in Photojournalism from Emerson College in Boston and has been working as a photojournalist for island newspapers since arriving on the island shortly after graduation in 2004. Originally on in-house staff at the Hawaii Island Journal, Hadley took four months to volunteer as an English teacher in Thailand for primary school children. Upon her return to the Big Island she began her freelance photojournalism career. She began working at Hualalai Academy last March.

Name:
Title: MS/HS Math and Science
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Donna has lived on both the East and West coast of the USA, but has resided on the Big Island since 1984. She is both a teacher and a professional biologist. Donna has accumulated over 13 years of diverse teaching experience including classroom teaching, home school, and field classes both on and in the ocean. She also has over 11 years of experience as an aquaculture biologist. Donna has a B.A in Experimental Psychology from the Univ. of Calif. at San Diego and a Masters of Science in Zoology form the Univ. of Rhode Island. She is an avid swimmer, SCUBA diver, outrigger canoe paddler and photographer.

Name: Chad Harberd
Title: MS English
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Chad was born and raised in Idaho and is a graduate of The University of Montana. After receiving a degree in Elementary Education, he has taught in both Colorado and Montana. In his spare time, Chad enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, reading, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Name:
Title: MS/HS Math and Science
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John was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in California. He received his BA in History from Baylor University and completed a Master of Education degree at Portland State University. He is credentialed to teach Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Social Studies. John has taught high school math and science for the past 17 years, including three years at Mont Kiara International School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Name:
Title: MS/HS English
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Greg was born in Southeast Missouri and graduated from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he mastered an interdisciplinary curriculum based on the Great Books of Western Civilization. He moved to Hawaii from Karatsu, Japan where he ran an English School. He and his wife, Kumiko, are expecting their first child.

Name:
Title: Sixth Grade Science/Academic Dean/Schools of the Future Student Project Coordinator

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Marc received his B. A. in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder and his EdM from the University of Phoenix. He has worked at Hualalai Academy since 2002, first as the Second Grade Teacher and then moving into administration as Dean of Instruction in 2005. He has many interests that he brings to his teaching and administrative responsibilities including the arts, swimming, cooking, and, most recently, robotics. Both of his daughters are alumni of Hualalai Academy.

Name:
Title: Sixth Grade Language Arts/Advancement Associate

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Elizabeth Sharma is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. She has a degree in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement from the state of Arizona. She likes to emphasize hands-on learning while also incorporating traditional aspects of education. Recently she was awarded a 2007 Financial Literacy Grant from ING Direct for her work with teaching children about money and accounting.

Name:
Title: MS Physical Education and Health/After School Coordinator
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Bonnie is originally from San Diego, California. She attended El Camino Junior College and has taken courses in education with the University of California, Berkeley, overseas extension program and the University of Hilo Community College. She is currently a full time student with The University of Ashford. Bonnie has been working for Hualalai Academy for eight years. She teaches physical education, health, and human anatomy. She is also the Director of the After-School Program

Name:
Title: Chief Financial Officer and MS/HS Math
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Rick received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and his B.A. from the University of Iowa. He has been actively involved with Hualalai Academy for 10 years, as a parent of a 9th grader that started in Kindergarten and as a past President of the Board of Directors.

Name:
Title: 4-12 Spanish and Social Studies
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Nastia graduated with a BA in Sociology from the University of Nanterre in Paris, France. She has been teaching French and Spanish since 1993 on the mainland and the Big Island.

Name:
Title: MS Math, Social Studies, and English
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Scott received his B.A. in English & Psychology from California Lutheran University and then earned a CLAD teaching credential for 6-12 grades. He taught middle school in southern California.

Name:
Title: MS/HS Social Studies
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Adrienne is originally from Oxford, Ohio. She holds a BA in Political Science and a MAT in Secondary Social Studies Education from Miami University. Adrienne has lived in Luxembourg and Australia. She loves to travel and spend time with her family in Ohio, Canada, Wisconsin and Hawaii.