Two local graduates returned to their alma maters this year, no longer as students, but as school principals.
As of June 1, Wilma Roddy is the new principal of Naalehu Elementary, while Adria Medeiros is the new principal of Mountain View Elementary.
“I feel blessed to be able to come full circle,” said Medeiros, former Mountain View student who previously served as a District Education Specialist. “I was born and raised here, then moved out to Pahala, so it’ll be nice to get back to my roots and the community that raised me.”
Medeiros served as a special education teacher prior to her career in administration.
“Mountain View is a focus school for the state, primarily due to the state scores within the special education subgroup,” said Medeiros. “I really hope to focus in on that subgroup and bring my knowledge and skills to the school to help develop and improve the special education program.”
During her time as a District Education Specialist, she assisted with literacy programs throughout the five elementary schools in her district.
“It gave me the opportunity to become familiar with elementary literacy,” said Medeiros. “In my last two years at the DES, I’ve had the pleasure of being on campus about once a month, and Mountain View continues to be a warm, caring place for kids that’s nurturing for growth and learning. It’s a very positive campus for adults and students alike, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that and contributing to it.”
As fate would have it, Roddy, who grew up in the Ka‘u community where she still resides, was Medeiros’ predecessor at Mountain View.
“I went to Naalehu school from kindergarten through eighth grade,” said Roddy, who returns as principal. “I can remember all the teachers that taught me and I’m grateful for them. So being here, I’m just excited to continue to help build the school.”
Roddy attended Ka‘u High School and went on to teach there as well before serving as Mountain View’s principal.
“I think of school as the hub of the community,” she said of her experience. “If we have everybody pitching in, from community partners to parents to staff at the school, if we all work together, I think anything is possible.”
Roddy plans to address the ongoing impacts of COVID at Naalehu, while prioritizing STEM programs, gardening curriculum and culture-based education.
“COVID has really taken us for a whirlwind and we’ve had to shift the way in which we taught,” said Roddy. “But on the bright side, COVID has also allowed us to learn about the multiple ways in which our kids can learn. They’re just resilient.”
Roddy was reintroduced to Naalehu through her children, who are students there.
“My kids attend Naalehu school and I know the staff in that capacity,” she said. “Now, to be joining onboard as a principal, I plan on bringing that high quality instruction and making sure we are very deliberate, intentional, targeted and strategic in what we do.”
Both principals cited ongoing goals of collaborating with the community to help students succeed.
“We’re very rural, so it’s about how we continue to build relationships with families and community partners so our students get access to all those things town kids get access to,” said Roddy. “I know Naalehu to be a culture where everybody helps everybody out, and we’re going to do whatever it takes so that nobody gets left behind.”
Roddy will replace Darlene Javar, who is retiring from Naalehu after serving in the Department of Education for 32 years.
“Principal Javar has proudly served the students of Naalehu Elementary for eleven years, with 10 as principal, with outstanding dedication,” said Complex Area Superintendent Keone Farias in a release. “We wish her the fondest aloha as she enters retirement to spend more time with her grandchildren,” adding “our incoming principals bring a wealth of leadership experience and are former graduates of their respective schools, giving them a distinct connection and familiarity with their communities that will help them to guide their students towards future success.”
Above all else, both principals favored spending time with students to learn where they might have the greatest impact.
“I want to initially spend time getting to know the school, the students, the faculty and community by being in the mix with them,” said Medeiros. “Then, see where my skills can be of benefit and of use to the school.”
Roddy reflected a similar goal for her time at Naalehu, hoping to serve as an example for the students of what they can achieve.
“I feel blessed to be able to work and serve our community,” said Roddy. “Growing up here, I just feel like if I can do it, any kid can do it. It doesn’t matter where you come from, I’m from right here.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com