This Chaminade graduate is excited to set the course for her alma mater, Sacred Hearts Academy
The new president of Sacred Hearts Academy is a familiar name there—and at Chaminade.
Brandy Ann Sato ’97, MAT ’02, Ph.D. has served in various roles at Sacred Hearts. She’s taught elementary to high school grades, held the vice principal position and became a board member in 2014.
Taking over the helm at the school, she said, is a “dream come true.”
“I’ve always had a special connection with the school,” she added.
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An all-girls private Catholic school, Sacred Hearts Academy’s enrollment stands at close to 500.
Sato notes that faculty members mentor their students to become strong women.
In Sacred Heart’s boardroom, the words “Where Girls Who Aspire Become Women Who Inspire” stretch across the wall. Sitting in the boardroom on a recent day, Sato says that motto “says it all.”
A Lancer alumni, Sato describes her peers of the Class of 1994 as “high achieving,” adding that some of her friends attended Harvard, Notre Dame and Georgetown universities.
She chose instead to stay home and attend Chaminade University—the only Catholic Marianist university in Hawaii.
Graduating first with her bachelor’s in History and Political Science, Sato then attained her Master’s of Art in Teaching with a concentration in Secondary Education. She later earned her Doctorate in Education at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
“If Chaminade had its doctor of education then, I would have stayed,” Sato said. “The experience at Chaminade taught me the importance of building lifelong relationships and service to the community.”
Sato said she understands that leading a private Catholic high school in Hawaii holds particular significance because of the unique cultural and religious diversity of the islands. She says balancing Catholic traditions and values with inclusivity and contemporary perspectives is key.
“Hawai’i’s population is notably diverse, with strong roots in Native Hawaiian traditions, Asian cultures, and Pacific Islander values,” Sato said. “A Catholic high school can build bridges by emphasizing universal values like respect, compassion and service, which resonate across different cultures.”
A focus on enrollment is among Sato’s top priorities.
“We provide an exceptional education,” Sato said. “We’re modernizing our education through technology, and we continue to develop a strong STEM curriculum.”
Aside from being “book smart,” Sacred Hearts students also have the opportunity to participate and serve in the community, as well as participate in various sports and a vibrant performing arts program.
Students also have the chance to opt into Chaminade’s Early College Program, allowing them to earn an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts without ever officially stepping into a classroom on campus.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn in a college setting,” Sato said. “It’s certainly a beneficial partnership, and I believe we can further strengthen the EC Program.”
One of the intangibles that Sato likes to point out is Sacred Hearts faculty seek to make learning fun. “When the students can feel and see that joy, it makes it that much easier to teach them,” she said.
