PUHI — The national search is on for a new head of school for Island School.
After five years of administrating, Head of School L. Shannon Graves is moving back to Florida.
He started his Voyager journey in July of 2015. Prior to that he was teaching and administrating in Waimea on the Big Island, at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. He took over after former Head of School Bob Springer retired after 18 steady years of education structure and community involvement.
“This is a fabulous place. Two out of my three children graduated from here. I was invested. We absolutely love the community, and we love the school,” said Graves.
“It is the best school I ever worked for. However, for family reasons, we were fortunate enough to get a job offer in Florida that fits both myself and my younger son’s schedule,” said Graves.
Graves has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, English certification, and a master’s degree in administration.
Graves said he is sad to leave, and shared some of the highlights of his journey as a contributing staff member of the school. Like basketball, he says, success at Island School takes a team. He claims the system and support were already established before he got there.
While working closely with his staff and the board of directors, Graves managed to accomplish some great things within his school and community, he said.
“(Through) our partnership with Kamehameha Schools we doubled Native Hawaiian students from 45 to 90 students.” he said.
“The partnership with Kaua‘i Community College with Helen Cox with their early-childhood program and our pre-K” is another example of collaboration. “We hold it on their campus but we run the program. That public-private partnership is fabulous,” said Graves.
Another great accomplishment is the enrollment. When Graves first got here, there were 367 students. Now there are 426.
Their standardized testing and advance-placement test scores are improving. Students continued to increase those scores each year Graves has been there, he said.
Island School ranks third in states among private schools with a 640 score in math and 637 in reading on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Their average advanced-placement classes grade-point average is 3.66.
“That is the reflection of the quality of staff, students and families that we have here,” said Graves.
Graves said Island School signed a partnership agreement with Kamehameha Schools, and now they are getting a grant that they can distribute to families in need directly through scholarships. That means families in need can now apply directly to Island School instead of going through Kamehameha Schools as they did in prior years.
Parents interested in applying for scholarships for the 2020-21 school year are encouraged to apply in February and March at Island School’s administration office.
When asked what his vision is for the school after he leaves, Graves said, “When I walked into this position, I think academically the school was very solid. I think we did a really nice job with partnerships with the communities, making it available to students from all over the island.”
They reached out to the community in many ways, said Graves, including opening their gym up for community youth basketball.
“Kaua‘i is a special place. I think we all try to help one another. This is a nice, central location, and we have a nice facility,” he said.
“Giving back to our community is important. Our board of directors and our founders” understand that. “We don’t lose sight of how important that is. Whether they are our kids or not, this is our community,” said Graves.
Since 1977 at Island School’s grand opening at a campus in Kealia, there have been eight permanent heads of school and two interim heads. Graves is the eighth head of school.
Besides the nice, steady structure he inherited from former Head of School Bob Springer, new faces brought new ideas, which Island School welcomes, Graves said.
An Island School committee has been on a national search for a new head of school since December.
They will work closely to find the best fit for the school and help that new person learn about Kaua‘i’s unique culture and community.
Sean Magoun, the school’s director of institutional advancement, has been there for 25 years, and has seen two heads of school leave.
“The position in itself nationwide has an average term of five to seven years,” Magoun said.
“It’s normal to see new faces after those years are up, and it gives the school new energy and direction. I hope the next head of school is a forward-thinking leader who will lead us in the right direction while learning about our culture and putting our students, staff and community’s best interest first,” said Magoun.
Graves is expected to finish this school year, with his last day June 30.
“One thing I am going to take back with me to Florida is the chickens,” he joked. “I will be looking for them. All jokes aside, I am really going to take back the aloha spirit I received here.”
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Stephanie Shinno, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
