This year, Sacred Hearts Academy welcomed to its Kaimuki campus a new president, who is no stranger to the Lancer life. Brandy Ann Sato, a proud graduate of the class of 1994, returned as a social studies teacher in 2000 to 2003. She later rejoined the Lancer community from 2017 to 2020, this time, as vice principal for grades 7-12. Sato not only brings a new perspective to the table but, many would agree, the vibrant leader also brings an understanding of what it means to be a Lancer.
Born and raised in Kailua, Sato enjoyed going to the beach and spending time with her family. With many relatives who graduated from St. Louis School and the Academy, she and her sister, Mandy Anne Stewart ‘99, naturally became Lancers as well. Sato fell in love with the community that an all-girls Catholic school had to offer, and at the Academy, she became involved in many programs.
“I participated in speech and debate, student government, LIFE Team and an international study program, in which I lived in Japan for a couple weeks,” Sato said. “I was taking all the (Advanced Placement courses) and honors courses, as well as participating in the Model United Nations club.”
At the Academy, she had many role models who encouraged her to follow the Academy’s Motto, to work and to pray.
“In the past and now, we’ve had many compassionate and devoted teachers,” she said. “Mrs. Karen Muromoto was my English teacher, (and) she is still here today (as a part of the Admissions Office.) Sato recalls, “Mrs. Muramoto focused her teaching on writing and grammar instruction. She also provided us many opportunities to practice our public speaking skills. She taught me the power of a well-written essay and how to speak confidently to others.”
Lurline Choy, who recently retired, was her social studies teacher. “She left great shoes to fill (and was) simply amazing,” she said.
The sisters of the Academy served as the most important role models to Sato.
“Sr. Irene (Barboza) taught me in grade 9 for Theology, the Old and New Testament,” she said. “Sr. Irene helped me to understand Sacred Scripture more deeply. We nearly read the entire Old and New Testaments in her year-long Grade 9 Theology class. I not only learned more about my Faith but also how to improve my reading comprehension skills, take good notes and confidently recall important Bible passages.”
Both sisters fondly remember Sato when she was a student at the Academy more than 30 years ago; Sr. Katherine-Francis Miller said, “I remember Brandy as a lovely, lively, gifted student. She always had a lovely smile and a kindly spirit, and she carried this throughout her years at the Academy. She studied hard, took all the academic and AP classes and loved a good argument.”
The Sacred Hearts Academy Sisters, who live in Regina Pacis and Malia o Ka Malu Convents, have also taught and worked at the Academy for more than 50 years.
“It has been a special grace to have one of their students become head of the school. We (the sisters) love (that) so much,” Miller said. “Each day, we pray at mass and adoration that the Hearts of Jesus and Mary continue to bless Dr. Sato with all the graces she needs to carry forth the mission of the Academy.”
After graduating, Sato attended Chaminade University, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration and political studies. She then went into financial services, and after working there for a few years, she discerned that it wasn’t the pathway she wanted to follow in life.
Remembering the fun she had teaching Sunday school in high school, Sato eagerly applied to be a preschool teacher at Saint Ann’s Model School in Kaneohe. It was also a church run by the sisters of the Sacred Hearts.
Sato understood the Sacred Hearts mission well, and from there, she remained in education. Sato went on to get a master’s degree in secondary education from Chaminade and a doctorate in education, specializing in curriculum studies, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also received a graduate certificate from Creighton University in Catholic school leadership, as well as her initial Catechist certification from the Archdiocese of Houston, where she lived at the time.
Sato went on to work at schools in Houston, Texas, San Diego, Calif. and Honolulu, Hawaii.
No matter where she went, Sato said she took the Academy’s mission with her, holding it close to her heart. Sato decided to return to the Academy because, at the end of the day, she said, she wanted to serve the Academy’s mission and ensure that more students have a truly inspirational experience, like she had 30 years ago.
“I feel as if all of my educational and professional life experiences led me here to give back to the Academy’s community,” Sato said.
Now in Hawaii, Sato enjoys her free time with her husband, Earl Yoshii, and their beloved dog Roxie, a miniature schnauzer. She relaxes by playing with Roxie and enjoys reading.
Sato is back at the Academy, roaming the same halls she once learned in, her goal is to focus on the mission, to provide an exceptional education to young women of Hawaii and to create compassionate servant leaders aligned with the mission of the sisters of the Academy. She also wants to make sure students are changemakers in our world.
Bailey Leong • Dec 2, 2024 at 2:01 pm
This was an interesting article! It was cool to learn more about our Head of School. I liked hearing about Dr. Sato’s experiences at SHA as well. Great job!!