Who we are

Mrs. Reed-Coté

IPES Principal

Mrs. Ofelia Reed-Coté

Mrs. Coté has always been passionate about Place Based Learning (PBL). She observed Blanche Pope Elementary progress from a school garden that started in 5-gallon buckets to a flourishing program with community partners that allow the students to work and learn on a farm. She understands the importance of weaving Hawaiian culture into everyday learning and that the orchard brings learning from the classroom into real-life application and experiences.

She appreciates that students have the opportunity to care for the ʻāina. She views these experiences as opportunities for students to work together and build the characteristics she wants to see in them: courageous and compassionate self-directed learners, complex thinkers, and community contributors who know how to work and communicate effectively with others.

She values that students have the chance to learn about themselves and how they are part of a community. Each member of the community has a part in ensuring that the garden is nurtured so that it can grow and thrive in any environment, especially at IPES. The orchard helps students gain an understanding of "place" and a sense of belonging.

Mrs. Coté sees the orchard as a legacy that leaves an essence of the care and love that the IPES students, staff, and families have given to IPES. The orchard will be the piko of learning, where there will be a thriving garden of vegetables, fruit trees, herbs, Hawaiian plants, and more. The produce from the garden can be eaten and shared with the students and community. She also envisions an outdoor learning hale near the orchard, providing a space for students to engage in various educational activities.

Ms. Shirk

Grade 5 Teacher

F4A

Ms. Jordan Shirk

As an elementary student in the Pacific Northwest she fondly remembers planting a cedar sapling in Ft. Stevens State Park on Earth Day. She still visits this tree from time to time. As a graduate of Waialua High School, she participated in her first native plant restoration project in the Waiʻanae Mountains. Continuing her education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, her favorite course was Ethnobotany. She valued learning about the plants of Hawai'i alongside the uses and traditions of local culture. After earning her master’s degree in Education from the University of Southern California, she joined the IPES ohana in 2013.

She and her family have been instrumental in the collaborative effort to plan and maintain the orchard project since its onset in 2022. Her goal is to provide students with space for hands-on learning, to observe natural phenomena and to strengthen our school community through hard work & caring for the land. She hopes that her students will return to visit the trees they planted and cared for as 10 & 11 year olds and feel pride in their connection to this place.

Jordan's favorite tree in the orchard is the fig tree, as it seems perfectly suited to life on the leeward side. She is also in love with the wind resistant ‘a‘ali‘i plant and has visions of it growing all over our campus.

You can reach this tree hugger via email at jshirk@ipes.k12.hi.us or simply catch her bopping by on her moped!

Ms. Ceus

Grade 6 Teacher

F6A

Ms. stephanie ceus

Believes all trees are exceptional. All trees are equally created exceptional..so are humans. :)

Mrs. Ino

Grade 5 Teacher

F3B

MRs. Lisa Ino

Meet Lisa Ino, a graduate from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. An island girl at heart through and through, she finds solace and joy in the outdoors, digging her hands in dirt, or resting under a shaded tree. She has been a dedicated member of the Iroquois Point Elementary School community since 2016. In 2022, she became an original member of the Orchard Committee, initially known as the tree huggers, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing the environment and fostering sustainable practices.

Lisa drew inspiration from her colleagues and from the Grow Oahu class in 2022. This ignited her creativity and deepened her understanding of Hā. She invites her family to become active members of the orchard, volunteering hours to develop and maintain it. With her warm demeanor and dedication to education, she continues to make a positive impact on the lives of her family, students, and colleagues alike.

This tree hugger can be reached at lino@ipes.k12.hi.us.

Mrs. Alonzo

Grade 5 Teacher

P17

Mrs. Queencie Alonzo

Thank you, thank you, to our exceptional SPED teacher on the grade 5 team. She strives to make the orchard an accessible space for all our learners. Gardening is one of her favorite hobbies, earning her the reputation of having a green thumb. She sees caring for plants as nurturing friendships and finds solace in the garden, considering it a space for self-care and emotional expression. Surrounded by plants since childhood, from ornamental flowers to crops and fruit-bearing trees, she values cultural practices like soil cultivation and holistic plant care. Her son shares her passion, particularly enjoying tending to fruit-bearing plants like bananas, lemons, and pineapples in the IPES orchard.

Ms. Jamison

Grade 5 EA

P17

Ms. Brittany jamison

You've likely seen her around campus. We want to extend our gratitude to her, as she's the hardest-working individual we've ever met! She possesses a remarkable ability to anticipate the needs of both teachers and students, going above and beyond to ensure everyone feels listened to.

This year, she's thrilled to have acquired new skills related to our orchard. Having attended IPES throughout her elementary years, she takes pride in witnessing its progress and contributing to its maintenance. Her passion lies in outdoor activities and yard work, evident from her volunteering at Ma Farms several times this year.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Biology and Political Science from BYU-Hawaii.

You can contact her at bjamison@ipes.k12.hi.us

Ms. Goff

Treehugger Alumna

Ms. Renee Goff

Ms. Goff was literally raised in a fruiting orchard in the Pacific Northwest. Apples, plums, pears, cherries, and blackberry brambles fed her body and soul as a child. When given the chance to establish one for generations of children at IPES, she literally climbed a tree with the Tree Huggers and has collaborated with them since 2022.

She was that child you'd see dinking around the yard, picking up bricks to find crickets and rollie-pollies, only to plop them into her bug jars. Her mom bought her a bug book that introduced her to a passion she would later pursue at Rosario Marine Station — Entomology!

Ms. Goff has been teaching at Iroquois Point Elementary School since 2014. As a dedicated learner, she holds a BS in Biology from Walla Walla University in Washington State and a MAT from the University of Southern California.

When not in the orchard, you'll find Ms. Goff outdoors, enjoying activities such as surfing, tide pooling, and lounging on the shore. When she grows up she's love to become an Interpretive Guide in a forest and a Tutu/Lola to many keiki. While she was raised among the Western Red Cedars, she is now often found among IPES' Tī.

Ms. Goff eagerly anticipates partnering with you in the orchard or on campus. You can contact her via email at rgoff@ipes.k12.hi.us.

Mr. Alvarado

Head Custodian

Mr. John alvarado

John is immensely relieved to see that, after our first year in the orchard, the passion for the project remains as strong as ever. He plays a crucial role in ensuring we navigate potential challenges smoothly, such as avoiding underground power lines while digging holes. Additionally, he contributed to the development of our personal protective equipment (PPE) for working in the orchard. As the go-to person for maintaining the lawn and managing invasive grasses, John works tirelessly behind the scenes and helps us all see the bigger picture. He's currently coordinating the procurement of replacement parts for the irrigation system and ensuring we acquire gravel to finish our learning center.

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