Community Lu'au Bids Three Teachers Good-bye

A community lu'au has been a Parker School tradition for 26 years. Art teacher Wendi Roehrig has been around for all of them; she joined the Parker School faculty in 1978, just two years after the school's founding, and has been part of the 'ohana for 29 years. She will retire this year.

As the Big Island community gathers on campus Friday, April 25, for the 27th annual community lu'au, they will participate in a tribute to Mrs. Roehrig, Parker's longest-standing faculty member, and two other veteran teachers. English teacher Tana Hilliard and math teacher Seiichi Kaida also are retiring.

Music by Sam Keli'ihoomalu and traditional lu'au cuisine by Jason Kanekoa are sure to make this event special. But the hula and musical performances by students may be most poignant for the teachers.

“It’s the kids that have kept me here,” says Mrs. Roehrig.

Mrs. Hilliard enrolled her daughters in Parker School in 1984 and was so impressed she joined the faculty. Mrs. Hilliard has taught English, history and algebra in her 23 years at the school. A building on campus is named in her honor.

Tears immediately sprang to Mrs. Hilliard’s eyes after she was asked to talk about her retirement. She, too, will miss the students most of all.

“Being a teacher has given me a focus that has challenged me to ponder and to research others’ ponderings as to what my students need to learn to prepare them for excellent, fulfilling lives. … What a glorious mixture of philosophy and fun has filled my life, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of being a teacher,” Mrs. Hilliard says.

Seiichi Kaida loves math: He wears T-shirts about the subject, hangs out in his classroom before school and during lunch to run his “Math Fitness Club,” an open study session, and makes sure to keep abreast of the latest research.

One of Parker’s signature policies - placing students in math according to ability rather than grade level - is Mr. Kaiida’s happiest accomplishment at Parker.

“My idea, and the reason I did this is “No Child Left Out,’” he says. “Everybody gets a chance and everybody gets what they need.”

Despite losing these three wonderful individuals, Parker School will continue to flourish, Headmaster Carl Sturges says.

“It’s always hard to lose veteran teachers to retirement, but they’ve established what it means to be a part of Parker. They set a standard.”

New teachers will be drawn to Parker because of the fun and supportive environment established by these teachers, and so will continue in the same vein. “The tradition will still be here,” Dr. Sturges says.