By Lisa Benoit
Hawaii Catholic Herald
On March 24, the students, faculty and staff of St. Joseph School in Waipahu took time off from morning recess to gather on the blacktop courtyard to honor their principal, Beverly Sandobal, with a surprise assembly.
The occasion was Sandobal being awarded Catholic school “principal of the year” for the western region of the United States by the Department of Elementary Schools of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA.)
Loading her with leis and singing her songs, the students and school staff bid their principal farewell before she flew to Philadelphia to receive the Dr. Robert J. Kealey Distinguished Principal Award, March 29, at the NCEA annual convention.
The award is given every year to one principal from each of the NCEA’s 12 U.S. regions. The western region includes California, Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific territories.
“I am really honored to receive the award, but it is something that I share with everyone in the successes of the children,” Sandobal told the Hawaii Catholic Herald upon her return.
She credits much of the school’s achievement to the pastor, La Salette Father Joven “Jojo” Junio, and the former pastor, La Salette Father Alphonse Larochelle.
”They were both supportive of Catholic education and in our financial challenges,” she said. “We got that support from the parish side. Father Jojo has worked hard to make the collaboration between school and parish.”
She also gave a lot of credit to her faculty, staff and parents.
“Their contribution is what makes everything work,” she said. “You can have lot of dreams but if you don’t have people to support you, it will be hard for them to come true.
“I feel really blessed,” she said.
About 15 family members, friends and colleagues from Hawaii attended the ceremony including her assistant principal Diane Esdicul, Father Junio, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Carmen Himenes and assistant superintendent Louise Wong.
Several Sandobal cousins flew up as well.
“It meant a lot to me,” she said. “What was nice was that everyone knew I was from Hawaii because I had so many leis,” she said.
According to Dr. Himenes, Sandobal has “continued to update herself spiritually and professionally to meet and exceed all the requirements of each position she has served.”
“Throughout my entire tenure as superintendent, Beverly has been a leader among her colleagues,” Himenes wrote in a letter recommending Sandobal for the award sent to the NCEA committee.
Sandobal has served in Hawaii Catholic schools for the past 25 years as a teacher, vice-principal and principal. She has been at St. Joseph School, a kindergarten through eighth grade institution, since 1994. She was the first layperson to serve as principal there after the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet.
Himenes said that Sandobal “works continually at providing for the Catholic identity of the school.”
“Her style of leadership and vision kept the continuity of the Catholic tradition and academic excellence of the [Sisters of St. Joseph] in education for the total school community,” she said.
Sandobal is certified as one of the lead teachers in the “Schools Attuned” program adopted two years ago in the diocese to address students with special needs. She also serves as a mentor for teachers and administrators, teaching them how to instruct and welcome special needs students.
Himenes said that Sandobal supports the professional development of her staff and “continually provided her faculty with all the essential components” to give them strategies and motivation to achieve goals together.
“Beverly Sandobal is never satisfied with the status quo,” she said. “She continues to work and move others toward excellence for the sake of the children in her care.”
According to Himenes, Sandobal has developed a music and drama program at St. Joseph School that develops the whole child.
“She seeks out the best leaders among teachers to enable her students to succeed in all they choose to do,” she said.
She has also been instrumental in developing regular meetings for administrators of leeward Oahu Catholic schools.
“She worked avidly with them writing grants gaining pro-development opportunities that began their commitment to inclusion,” Himenes wrote. “Beverly has built a safe and trusting team among all the Leeward administrators that allows the schools to work cooperatively to achieve the best results within their limited resources.”
Sandobal has also been an advocate for Catholic education at the state legislature.
“She has reached out to the officials in her district so that Catholic education is not forgotten in the legislature,” Himenes said. “Beverly has worked to make a difference for all Hawaii Catholic Schools.”