Voyagers Returning Home We began the 2021-22 academic year by welcoming back to campus four Island School alumni who have returned to work as faculty and staff. We welcome Allison Culliney ‘15 as a high school Math teacher, Genevieve Foster ‘15 as our Development and Communications Associate, Teddy Rose ‘12 as a Computer Science and Technology teacher, and Justin Pajela ‘16 as our IT Administrator. We sat down with each of them to talk about their lives away from Island School, and why they chose to return.
Left: Allison Culliney as an Island School Na Pua Keiki student in 2001. Right: Allison Culliney on her first day as an Island School teacher in 2021.
Allison Culliney, Class of 2015 What years did you attend Island School? I was a student at Island School from Pre-K until 12th grade. I graduated in 2015. What do you currently do at Island School? I teach high school math: Geometry, Algebra II and College Algebra. What did you do after Island School? Where did you go, what did you study, how many years were you away? I spent a semester at Virginia Tech, realized it wasn’t for me, and spent my second semester at Kauaʻi Community College. I then transferred to University of Puget Sound where I got a B.S. in Geology and a minor in Mathematics. Halfway through my last semester of senior year, I got stuck in New Zealand due to COVID-19, and ended up graduating remotely from New Zealand in May of 2020. I took the next year as an unintentional gap year working odd jobs and traveling around New Zealand and Australia. What brought you back to Island School? What do you find special or unique about Island School? It was hard being away from my family throughout the pandemic, especially as we lost a few family members over the course of the year. I enjoyed working with students in my previous positions, so when I saw the opening at Island School, I thought it would be a great opportunity to dive into the world of teaching while getting to spend more time with my family. I didn’t fully appreciate all of the experiences I had at Island School until after I had graduated from high school, but looking back, I am so glad to have grown up in such a nurturing and caring community. It’s truly a unique environment, and I’m happy to be a part of it again!
