Former Superintendent of Schools Patricia Hamamoto, a Maryknoll School graduate, returned to her Catholic school roots today when she started her new job as principal of Saint Louis School.

Hamamoto resigned as chief of Hawaii's public school system on New Year's Eve, citing personal reasons. Her resignation and retirement came as the public school system was in the throes of unprecedented budget cuts that led to furloughs of school teachers and the shortest instructional calendar in the country.

Saint Louis President Walter Kirimitsu called Hamamoto a “distinguished educator” who will restore the all-boys academy’s stature as an academic leader in the community.