O’Connell

NAPILI — Maui Preparatory Academy welcomed two new teachers — Heather O’Connell and Andrew O’Riordan — for the 2010-11 school year.

A math and science teacher, O’Connell’s fascination with the intricacies of the human body led her to pursue biochemistry and earn her bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College in 2002. After analyzing pharmaceuticals for Pfizer and conducting sleep research with Weill Cornell Medical College, she returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Education from Pace University in 2007.

She then worked at a small private school in Westchester County, New York, where she taught both middle school and high school science. 

Her commitment to community service, both locally and internationally, guided her to found a Habitat for Humanity club and travel to Nicaragua with a group of students to build homes for the community.

Now, her adventurous spirit has transported her to Maui, where she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for science with students while exploring the vast terrain and plant life here on Maui.

O’Riordan

A new social studies and English teacher at Maui Prep, O’Riordan has been fortunate to live, work and study on five of seven continents in the last ten years. He draws on these experiences to shape his classroom.

Much of his interest in teaching comes from two decades as a student. As a teenager, he attended private Catholic schools in San Diego. As a result of energetic work in middle and high school, O’Riordan went on to study at Princeton University. There, he focused on history and Latin American studies with forays into economics, philosophy and literature. He holds a Bachelor of the Arts Degree from Princeton and certificates in Chinese and ESL (English as a Second Language). 

Since college graduation in 2003, O’Riordan has spent every year on the Pacific Rim. He is excited to be a part of the West Maui community.

He is honored to steward the evolution of our children into creative, motivated and visionary young adults.