-
PLAY, WONDER, SOAR.
About Us
Our Vision and Values
Our Vision: Every child is part of a caring community that inspires their love for learning.
Our Values: At Seagull, we nurture children’s creativity and curiosity. At their first school, children will form a forever family and adopt the skills they need to reach their fullest potential.
PLAY, WONDER, SOAR.
Our Values: At Seagull, we nurture children’s creativity and curiosity. At their first school, children will form a forever family and adopt the skills they need to reach their fullest potential.
PLAY, WONDER, SOAR.
Our Mission
Seagull Schools provides children an exceptional start to their educational journey.
We do this in partnership with our learning community (families, students, teachers, kūpuna) by:
- Ensuring we use nationally-recognized best practices in early childhood learning and care.
- Learning through play and having fun!
- Providing affordable, accessible educational opportunities of the highest quality.
- Recognizing individual needs and interests to create personalized learning opportunities.
- Building connections and engaging with our local community.
History of Seagull Schools
In 1971, Chuck Larson opened a preschool in Waimānalo with 38 children and two classrooms. He named it after Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull — a story about a bird who refused to settle for the ordinary and dared to fly higher.
That spirit still drives everything we do.
Over 54 years, Seagull Schools has become one of Hawai’i’s largest nonprofit early education organizations. We have six campuses from Kailua to Ko Olina, more than 800 children, and a team of over 140 educators and staff. We were also the first in Hawaiʻi to offer center-based infant and toddler care. Today, every established campus holds NAEYC national accreditation with the exception of our newest campus in Aina Haina where this process is underway.
Our community has helped us raise more than $12 million for tuition assistance and campus development since we opened our doors. From the beginning, Seagull has believed that a great early education shouldn't depend on what a family can afford. Our program is proud to offer families one low tuition rate for our year-round program, extended daily hours (10 – 11 in total), which is also inclusive of three healthy USDA meals and snacks.
In 2018, Dr. Megan McCorriston became Seagull's CEO, bringing an Oxford education doctorate and international nonprofit experience to an organization built on local trust. Under her leadership, Seagull has continued to expand, opening a sixth campus in Aina Haina and launching infant care programs to serve families from a child's earliest months.
That spirit still drives everything we do.
Over 54 years, Seagull Schools has become one of Hawai’i’s largest nonprofit early education organizations. We have six campuses from Kailua to Ko Olina, more than 800 children, and a team of over 140 educators and staff. We were also the first in Hawaiʻi to offer center-based infant and toddler care. Today, every established campus holds NAEYC national accreditation with the exception of our newest campus in Aina Haina where this process is underway.
Our community has helped us raise more than $12 million for tuition assistance and campus development since we opened our doors. From the beginning, Seagull has believed that a great early education shouldn't depend on what a family can afford. Our program is proud to offer families one low tuition rate for our year-round program, extended daily hours (10 – 11 in total), which is also inclusive of three healthy USDA meals and snacks.
In 2018, Dr. Megan McCorriston became Seagull's CEO, bringing an Oxford education doctorate and international nonprofit experience to an organization built on local trust. Under her leadership, Seagull has continued to expand, opening a sixth campus in Aina Haina and launching infant care programs to serve families from a child's earliest months.
Our Founder
Chuck Larson co-founded Seagull Schools in 1971 and served as its Executive Director for 47 years. A pioneer of early education in Hawaiʻi, Chuck opened Seagull's first school on the Windward side in Waimānalo and grew the organization from 38 children in two classrooms to more than 1,000 students at its peak across five campuses — Kailua, Downtown Honolulu (The Early Education Center), Kapolei, Ocean Pointe (Ewa Beach), and Ko Olina. He was also a visionary in establishing one of Hawaiʻi's first intergenerational programs at the Kapolei campus, connecting keiki and kūpuna in daily learning and life together.
Leadership Team
-
-
Megan McCorriston
Chief Executive Officer
-
Megan McCorriston is the Chief Executive Officer of Seagull Schools and began working here in July 2018. She holds a Masters and Doctorate in Education from the University of Oxford in England. Her career began as a school teacher, however she later went on to education administration and leadership in Hawai’i and other international locations. She is a published researcher in the field of comparative and international education, and experienced consultant to non-profits such as the British Refugee Council and United Nations agencies. She is an active member of the National Association of the Education of Young Children and Child Care Business Coalition in Hawai’i. She has been a tireless advocate of education as a means for social justice for over 20 years.
In her position as Chief Executive Officer, she has oversight of Seagull Schools’ five Early Education Centers and Adult Day Center. She is committed to developing and innovating Seagull’s high quality early education and intergenerational programs to meet the needs of young students in an ever-changing world.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and traveling to new destinations. Her greatest joy is raising her daughter in the same place where she has fond memories growing up herself and making lifelong friendships. It is her privilege to give back to the community by continuing the legacy of Seagull Schools, and to educate this next generation of learners and leaders in Hawai’i.
-
-
Julie Upton
Chief Financial Officer
-
-
-
Henry Wu
HR Director
-
-
-
Kana'i Bento
Regional Director East Kailua Director
-
-
-
Melissa Kasik-Requilman
Regional Director West
-
-
-
Cortney Li
Aina Haina Director
-
-
-
Maria Shjegstad
EEC Director
-
-
-
Lisa Nakagawa-Soberano
Kapolei Director
-
-
-
Joanna Kwon
Ko Olina Director
-
-
-
Donja Morton
Ocean Pointe Director
-
-
-
Matthew Delaney
Facility Maintenance Manager
-
-
-
Alejandro Enderica
Food Service Manager
-
Board of Directors
Seagull Schools is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who bring expertise in education, finance, community development, and family advocacy to guide the organization's mission.
Officers:
Keane Omaye-Backman, President
Keane Omaye-Backman, President
Stacie Sasagawa, Vice President
Richard Nonaka, Treasurer
Kevin Doyle, Secretary
Members:
Michael Buck
Brandon Hinaga
Wyeth Matsubara
Tylynn McMonagle
Pei-Fang Nakayama
Karen Mukai
Nahelani Parsons
Nahelani Parsons
Kimmie Timson
Amy Thompson
Business Office Address
1300 Kailua Rd. Kailua, HI 96734
Phone Number: 808-649-2006
Fax Number: 808-261-7052
E-Mail: admin@seagullschools.org
Phone Number: 808-649-2006
Fax Number: 808-261-7052
E-Mail: admin@seagullschools.org
About
Seagull Schools offers affordable, high-quality early education and childcare programs that meet the needs of Hawaii’s working parents.
Six campuses across Oʻahu. In-house meals every day. Financial aid for families who need it. If you're looking for your child's first school, we're here.
Six campuses across Oʻahu. In-house meals every day. Financial aid for families who need it. If you're looking for your child's first school, we're here.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
© Seagull Schools. All Rights Reserved