After twenty years, Brother Kevin O`Malley returns to Samoa. He has been appointed President of St. Joseph`s College, as well as the CEO of the College`s Governance Board. Initially the positions will be on a part-time basis until his current contract with the Catholic Education Office in American Samoa is completed in early July, 2020.
Brother Kevin has a long-time connection with St. Joseph`s College as teacher and Principal, being in the latter role in the early 1970s and again through most of the 1990s. He was Director of Catholic Education for Samoa and American Samoa from 1979 through 1983.Brother Kevin left Samoa at the end of 2000, the Golden Jubilee Year of the College. His recent service was in Marist Schools in New Zealand and Kiribati.
The Governance Board wants to move St Joseph`s College forward, so they have sought the assistance of Brother Kevin, among others.
Brother John Hazelman, District Leader of the Marist Brothers in the Pacific and New Zealand, said: “We are blessed that Brother Kevin has agreed to this new role. He has a wealth of experience and is passionate about education.” He added that three other Marist Brothers will be involved at St Joseph`s College this year.
Many of Samoa`s leaders and well-known personalities are former students of St. Joseph`s College.
Brother Kevin`s pending return has prompted several Old Boys to send their sons to the College. One such ex-student and former Dux of SJC, Tuatagaloa Aumua Ming Leung Wai, currently President of the Marist Brothers Old-Pupils Association, has his son enrolling for the 2020 school year in Year 13. According to Tuatagaloa “I prefer St. Joseph`s College because it educates not just the mind, but also body and soul with its holistic approach to education.”
Brother Kevin, who will participate in next week`s Staff Orientation, stated: “I am very happy to again be part of the St. Joseph`s family and serving in Samoa.”
[Press release issued by Marist Brothers School Governance Board 16/1/20]