Our Faculty & Staff

In October 2003, Ho`ala School was recognized as a semifinalist by the "National Schools of Character" awards program sponsored by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) of Washington DC.

Educational professionals and student teachers from around the world are encouraged to visit and to learn more about our model program. Formal professional trainings and student teaching positions may be pre-arranged by request through our office.

Since 1986, the Ho`ala Model has inspired the philosophies and practices of several other new schools in Hawaii and California. Numerous Ho`ala-trained teachers currently apply these practices in their public school classrooms as close by as Hale`iwa and as far away as Iowa, Alabama and New Zealand.

Full -Time Faculty & Staff

Phyllis B. Norton, M.Ed

Head of School

Darlene Dela Cruz

Admissions & Marketing Director

Justine Lafata

Bookkeeper

Mickie Hettema

Admin. Assistant

Carolyn Brown

Kindergarten Teacher

Sheri Ecton

1st & 2nd Grade Teacher

Lori Fukuoka

Teacher, Grades 3 & 4; Director, Camp Kokua

Pat Calvert

Teacher, 5th and 6th Grade 

Tina Markel

 Art Teacher K - 12 and Drama Teacher K - 12, Senior Project Advisor

Brenna Comens

Teacher,  7th & 8th Grade Homeroom, 5-12 Science, 7-8 Math

Uri Barron

Teacher, 11th - 12th Homeroom, Grades 5 - HS Social Studies, 5 - 12 PE

Katie Erwin

English/LA Teacher  - HS

Part -Time Faculty & Staff

Jordan Bayang

Kindergarten Teacher's Aide/HS Geometry

Emma Sorrell

After School Program Assistant

Jef Fern

Retired Ho`ala Master Teacher. Currently the Facilitator for Parent-Teacher Study Group; Substitute Teacher

Nona Fern 

Ho'ala Plus Before & After School Program Director

Puri Garcia

Spanish Teacher, Grades K - 12, 11 - 12 Guidance, Senior Project Advisor