Kaimuki Christian School names Robyn Ahn as its new principal and two new vice principals to its leadership team

Kaimuki Christian School names Robyn Ahn as its new principal 

HONOLULU—Today Kaimuki Christian School (KCS) announced that Robyn Ahn will serve as its school principal effective August 1. The announcement comes as Mark Gallagher retires after nearly 20 years of service as the head of the school.

Ahn’s plans include continuing to build upon Gallagher’s legacy, which included a major capital campaign and campus expansion that enabled the school to include a high school. Ahn’s focus includes the academic and spiritual success of students and continuing to strengthen the school’s leadership by cultivating the KCS community, creating a climate that nurtures learning, managing educators and administrators, as well as overseeing the school’s operations. KCS faculty and staff include 45 professionals who serve nearly 300 students enrolled in Preschool through 12th grade.

Ahn brings a diverse leadership background to her position. Prior to this appointment, she served as Vice Principal of the lower school for six years. In this role, she managed a broad spectrum of responsibilities include overseeing preschool through elementary operations, as well as instructional duties such as teaching Mandarin to students.

Founded in 1968, Ahn is only the third Kaimuki Christian School principal. The school celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.

Prior to joining KCS, the mother of four was a homeschool educator, where she created curriculum and taught elementary through middle school for all subjects. She also ran Ahn’s Academy, a martial arts school, with more than 200 students in Illinois.

Before her career in education, Ahn worked in finance. At Dean Witter Institutional Futures, she served as Assistant Vice President and handled its marketing and research. She also worked as a Unit Leader and Securities Specialist for American National Bank. Her financial background has served her throughout her career by bringing a strong sense of fiscal responsibility and accountability to all of her positions.

Ahn earned an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College in Illinois and secured her MBA from Illinois Institute of Technology.

Growing up in a missionary family in Singapore and Taiwan, she attended Christian schools for her secondary and college years. This gave her a strong appreciation and a passion for Christian education. She resides in Kaimuki with her husband, three sons, three foster children, two cats and a dog. Her daughter is attending college at UCLA.

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Kaimuki Christian School names two new vice principals to its leadership team

HONOLULU—Kaimuki Christian School (KCS) has selected Lindon Kanakanui as Vice Principal and Jane McClair as Associate Vice Principal.

In his position as Vice Principal, Lindon Kanakanui will oversee all upper school administrative functions, spearhead fundraising initiatives and lead the school’s charitable and outreach programs. Additional plans include directing campus expansions efforts, as well as increasing the school’s overall enrollment and diversifying the student body to include international students.

“Christian school education is more than just a job,” says Lindon Kanakanui. “It’s a calling. I took this position because I believe that I can do more by supporting teachers in an administrative role than as solely a teacher. This position allows me to stay connected with students and their families which I enjoy.”

Kanakanui holds a doctorate in education leadership, two master’s degrees – one in music education and another in music performance and bachelor’s degree of music in education. He is member of the Hawaii Music Educators Association and the Oahu Band Directors Association. He serves as a volunteer for Anchor Church and River of Life Mission.

Jane McClair now serves as Kaimuki Christian School’s Associate Vice Principal, a position formerly held by Kanakanui. McClair develops policies and programs to advance learning, provides mentorship to the school’s educators and creates partnerships with community organizations. A teacher at KCS since 2005, McClair brings nearly 30 years of education experience in primary school education. Previously she served as director of Kuwae Preschool in Okinawa, Japan and Navy Hale Keiki. Her goals include supporting teachers, creating seamless alignment of curriculum between the grade levels, and helping teachers with their re-accreditation and recertification.

McClair holds a Master’s degree in Education from Chaminade University.

KCS faculty and staff include 45 professionals who serve nearly 300 students enrolled in Preschool through 12th grade.

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