With nearly two decades of experience in education, Dawn has dedicated their career to fostering academic success and equity for all students. Currently serving as an assistant principal, a role they’ve held for the past three years, Dawn draws from extensive classroom experience as a teacher in both the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD).
As Channel Coast Chapter Chair for NPIEN and a proud member of a family with Filipino and Hawaiian heritage, Dawn is deeply committed to advocating for Pacific Islanders and supporting efforts to increase success within their community. They aim to inspire collaboration, inclusivity, and excellence in all aspects of their work.
Dr. Loriann A. Leota is an experienced and highly effective administrator and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Doctor of Education in Educational and Professional Practice; Multicultural and Anti-racist Education. Her dissertation is titled: True Culture at War With Colonizer Culture: The Underrepresentation of Pacific Islander Students in Higher Education.
Dr. Leota has worked as both a teacher and educational leader in several settings, ranging from urban to suburban and has served diverse populations. She truly believes that all children can grow intellectually, emotionally and socially, when they are provided with a caring and engaging educator. Under her leadership, her school was able to transform their SBAC scores by more than 15% in both ELA and Mathematics, decrease the chronic absenteeism rate by almost 2% and decrease the suspension rate by 1%. A strong equity advocate, she firmly believes in meeting the needs of the whole child by building relationships, empowering students to be agents of social change and inspiring leaders.
The number of Pacific Islanders in education is less than 10%, with an even smaller percentage in administration. Further, they earn 0.1% of doctoral degrees. As a Palauan educational leader, Dr. Leota intends to break the glass ceiling for not only herself, but all Island people.
Dr. Audrey Mae Hernandez wears multiple hats in her career with an intentional emphasis on community advocacy, social justice, and policy reform within higher education for the NHPI community.
Previously, she served over 13 years in higher education administration in the private and public sectors. Currently, Dr. Audrey Mae is serving as the Program Director for Island Grad – a non- profit organization dedicated to uplifting our NHPI community through community, culture, and celebration. She is an associate clinical social worker and therapist at a private practice serving our NHPI and LGBTQ+ community.
Recently, she was appointed as an adjunct professor at Cal State Fullerton, teaching future MSW scholar-practitioners. In addition to her dedication to the communities she serves, Dr. Audrey Mae is a proud daughter of our beautiful island of Guåhan – being born and raised there by her Filipino parents.
Media
Higher Education Partners
- Cerritos College, Long Beach City College, Long Beach City College MANA, Rutgers University, University of California, Irvine, Azusa Pacific University, California State University, Los Angeles, Grand Canyon University, Southern Oregon University, California Baptist University
Community Based Organizations
- Kutturan Chamoru Foundation: Preservation of the Chamoru Culture
- IslandGrad: Supporting Pacific Islander Graduates
- Empowering Pacific Islander Communities```
- Hawai'i Daughter's Guild
- Micronesian Islander Community
- Office of Samoan Affairs
- Inafamaolek, Bay Area Organization serving the CHamoru community Guam
- Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum
School Safety
Language Courses
Health Organizations
- NCADD | Tobacco Control & Prevention Program
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services We Can Do This
- Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response TeamSouthern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team
Pacific Islander Festivals
- Samoan Heritage Celebration, City of Carson, CA
K-12 Education School District Organizations
Born in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Fuimaono has lived in Missouri for all his school age years. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Midwest Polynesian community in this capacity. He strives to be an example to our youth and spread the positive influence of our culture to those around us.
Dr. Fuimaono currently serves as the Associate Principal at Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Missouri. He’s married to Dr. Danica Fuimaono and they have three children. Jaxon is a student at the University of Central Missouri majoring in Early Childhood Education. Deuce is a student-athlete at Blue Springs High School, and Laila is a middle school student involved in several activities and athletics.