Officers and Directors
The Hawai‘i Branch’s all-volunteer Board meets regularly during the year to manage the operation of the Branch.
Jessica Stack
President
Jessica Stack is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, bringing her passion for helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals. A lifelong educator, she excels at uncovering hidden talents and guiding people toward financial clarity and success. With over seven years of experience teaching in Hawai‘i public and private schools, Jessica has also served as a private tutor and student support coordinator. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish HayStack Essentials, where she honed her skills as a business owner, grant writer, and project manager.
Sean Haggerty
Vice President
Sean Haggerty is the Vice President of Support Services at Hawaiian Cement. Over his 18-year tenure, he held various roles, including Safety Manager, General Manager, and Area Manager; he also served as the Corporate Safety Director for Knife River Corporation. A retired U.S. Navy veteran, Sean brings leadership expertise and a deep commitment to community service. As the father of a child with dyslexia, he is passionate about advancing awareness and resources for individuals with dyslexia in Hawaiʻi.
Ned Rodrigues
Treasurer
Ned Rodrigues is a Vice President with Bank of Hawai‘i and primarily manages the commercial real estate construction loan process. Ned has over 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate lending. She is currently a Director of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i and the Filipino Community (FilCom) Center. Ned is graduate of Waipahu High School and attended Hawai‘i Pacific University. Dyslexia is very near and dear to her as her motto is we are not all the same.
Lynn Dagli, M.Ed.
Secretary
Lynn Dagli is an educator, Orton-Gillingham Academy Associate, and private tutor specializing in dyslexia and reading challenges. Drawing on extensive research and professional development in neurodiversity, she integrates evidence-based strategies in her teaching. As the HIDA Program Committee Chair, Lynn organizes professional development for educators and advocates for dyslexia awareness and early intervention. She is dedicated to empowering individuals with dyslexia to embrace their strengths and recognize their intelligence and unique thinking skills.
Natalie Haggerty, Ph.D.
Past President
Natalie Haggerty is an Instructor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Special Education. She is a Cohort Coordinator for the Exceptional Students Elementary Education (ESEE) program, and is passionate about pre-service teacher preparation. She received her doctorate in Education – Exceptionalities from the UH-Mānoa College of Education. Her research interests include evidence-based practices and literacy instruction for students with reading difficulties. Natalie previously served in various teaching and administrative roles at Assets School and is the parent of a young adult with dyslexia.
Chris Padesky
Director
Chris Padesky has over a decade of teaching experience in various roles, including general education teacher, literacy tutor, instructional coach, and librarian. He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming. As an Assistant Professor of Education at Chaminade University of Honolulu, he teaches literacy methods and researches instruction for neurodivergent learners. As a neurodivergent individual with dyslexia, he brings professional expertise and personal insight into his work.
Susannah Johnson, M.Ed.
Director
Susannah Johnson For thirteen years in the classroom and through research centering on twice exceptional learners, Susannah spent over a decade at Assets High School developing truly individualized instruction grounded in critical thinking, authenticity, and passion. Susannah received her Master of Education degree in 2016, is a regular presenter at the Schools of the Future Conference and the International Conference for Critical Thinking, as well as the author of articles about this unique pedagogy. Susannah continues to pursue knowledge and evolving educational strategies, using her own global explorations to ignite ideas in education innovation through Individualized Realized, LLC. She is also a Co-Founder with IMPACT Bound, education reimagined, and PLN Project, bringing individualized learning to life with global cohorts, and is the Director of Global and Grassroots Curriculum and Coaching for What School Could Be.
Jennifer Leoiki-Drino
Director
Jennifer Leoiki-Drino – Founder of Coaching For Ohana. She is certified Empowerment Coach,
Consultant and Advocate specializing in Dyslexia and co-existing factors. Jennifer brings a unique
perspective from being neurodivergent herself, being the parent of a child with dyslexia and having
worked extensively with teachers, students and parents in a variety of schools. She has a deep level of
understanding and empathy for what it takes to walk in the footsteps of being dyslexic and the gifts and
challenges that dyslexia brings. Jennifer is passionate about educating people on learning differences
and guiding individuals and families on their journey with Dyslexia. Jennifer is the Private School
Representative with the Hawaii Department of Education Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC).
Jennifer is Chair of the HIDA Public Awareness Committee.
Lisa Nakamura
Director
Lisa Nakamura was a teacher at Assets School in Honolulu for 23 years, where she used Orton-Gillingham, RAVE-O, Project Read, Read Naturally and Lindamood-Bell LIPS and Visualizing/Verbalizing, to remediate students with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning difficulties. She currently applies this considerable expertise as the Learning Support Specialist in Reading (Holomua) for grades 3-5 at Kamehameha Elementary School on Maui. She is also a member of the Kūkulu Kumuhana MTSS Care Team, helping to develop academic and behavioral support plans for Tier 2 and 3 students. Lisa previously served a 3-year term on the HIDA Board and its Program Committee. Her goal in serving this time is to help spread to the neighbor islands awareness and understanding of learning differences, as well as the importance of Structured Literacy instruction for all children.
Andrew Corrie
Director
Andrew Corrie grew up in the UK and overcame lifelong challenges with dyslexia, developing deep empathy for others facing similar obstacles. He earned an electrical and electronic engineering degree and represented his country in white-water slalom kayaking. His career has spanned hospitality management, corporate sales, and now, as an airline pilot managing private jets. In 1992, Andrew moved to Hawaiʻi; he invested in residential real estate and owns a small contracting business. He is passionate about giving back and leveraging his experiences to contribute meaningfully.
Michelle Henderson
Director
Michelle Henderson is a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach. She holds a Master’s in Reading Science from Mount St. Joseph University. Michelle’s professional pursuits are informed by her role as a parent of a dyslexic learner. Her dedication to understanding the multifaceted challenges encountered by children with dyslexia and their families was ignited when her youngest son received diagnoses of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD.
Michelle Masterfano
Director
Michelle K. Masterfano, DBA, is a lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Her work spans large corporations, entrepreneurial firms, and nonprofits, where she is known for her analytical approach and commitment to excellence. She holds a DBA in Marketing from Argosy University Sarasota, an MS in Management Science from Lehigh University, and a BA from Pennsylvania State University.
Katie Severn
Director
Katie Severn is a dedicated educator with extensive leadership experience in building staff capacity, creating collaborative environments, and providing evidence-based instruction tailored to individual needs. She is a proven community builder and strategic problem solver in diverse, changing environments. A skilled communicator, Katie is committed to professional excellence, integrity, and best practices, demonstrating perseverance, passion, and thoughtfulness toward students, teachers, and parents.
Tammy Toma
Executive Director
Tammy Toma is the Hawai’i Branch of IDA’s (HIDA) Executive Director as of November 2022 and its sole employee. Tammy comes to HIDA with a diverse background, including over 14 years as a regional manager with ‘Ōlelo Community Media and a district manager for a large insurance carrier. She enjoyed coaching students from the US and around the world as an NCAA 2 head coach over a decade.
In Memoriam
Betty Ishii
The HIDA ‘ohana is mourning the loss of long-time HIDA leader Elizabeth (Betty) Ishii, who passed away on February 9, 2021. Betty joined the HIDA Board in 2006 and served as president from 2009-2011. After her term as president ended, Betty continued to be active with HIDA’s Public Awareness Committee, serving as committee chair into early 2019.
Betty’s contributions to every aspect of HIDA’s work played a significant role in HIDA evolving into the community leader, and award-winning IDA branch, that it is today. Betty Ishii gave relentlessly of herself and will be remembered always at HIDA with respect and gratitude. She is greatly missed.
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Cal Sakata
Former Hawai‘i Branch Board member and longtime DOE Special Education teacher Cal Sakata lost his five year battle with cancer in July 2009. Cal was a beloved teacher who served on the Hawai‘i Branch Board from 1996 through 2001, and again from 2003 through 2007. In 2002, he was selected as the Hawai‘i Branch’s Volunteer of the Year. Cal’s memorial service was a testament to the many people he touched throughout his life. The overflowing crowd of over 500 people included his family, friends, colleagues and students. It was a festive atmosphere filled with loving stories of Cal, punctuated by tears and laughter. The chapel and crowd were adorned with images of Mickey Mouse. Cal had requested that everyone wear something with Mickey Mouse on it to honor one of his idols – Walt Disney*. According to Leandra Pace, Cal’s longtime co-worker and dear friend who delivered the eulogy, one of Walt Disney’s quotes became Cal’s motto: “If you can dream it, you can do it!”
Click here to read the eulogy in its entirety.
*We have learned that according to the Walt Disney Family Museum, there is no indication anywhere in Walt’s history that he had dyslexia.
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