Tanya Wadhwani
Choosing an educator for your child is one of the most important decisions you can make, and I’m honored that you are considering me.
I began my career by earning a Master’s in Education from the University of California at Santa Cruz. I hold teaching credentials in both California and Hawaii, and I bring more than 15 years of professional teaching experience across a wide range of schools and student populations.
The first part of my career was spent as a high school language arts teacher. Later, I became the site administrator for a hybrid online/in-person charter school. In that role, my work expanded well beyond the classroom. I served as a teacher, counselor, advisor, administrator, and a steady source of support for students and families in grades K–12.
In recent years, I’ve worked independently with families—as an educator, consultant, tutor, supplementary support for alternatively educated children, and admissions counselor. I also serve as a judge for student writing contests with The New York Times, where I evaluate over 500 submissions annually. This role allows me to engage deeply with student writing from around the world.
I’ve had the privilege of teaching students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Some families have entrusted me with their children’s education for over eight years. I’ve concurrently taught high school algebra and language arts, supported early literacy, worked with students with learning differences, offered college counseling, taught Spanish, and helped families make informed choices about education. My philosophy of teaching continues to grow and evolve with every student and family I meet.
Beyond my professional life, my greatest joy has been raising my son, Owen. He is kind, compassionate, and an incredible waterman and boat captain.
While education has always been at the heart of my work, I’m often much more than a teacher—I’m also a mentor, an aunty, a caregiver, and a reliable adult presence in my students’ lives. I truly adore my students and deeply appreciate the trust and gratitude of their families.
Sarah Goodale
Helping kids to love to learn is my passion. My goal is to help each child I teach have the confidence to learn anything. I am a strong believer that private and small group instruction allow children to learn at their own pace and to be completely engaged in their education.
I have been involved in education for over 40 years, both on the Mainland and in Hawai’i. I hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Education in Elementary Education from University of Hawai’i and I am certified by the Hawai’i Department of Education for kindergarten through sixth grade. I interned at Waiakeawaena Elementary School in Hilo, Hanahau’oli School, Punahou School, and several public schools in Honolulu.
I began my career at Island School on Kaua’i, in its early days, and later taught in Connecticut and Vermont. While raising my three children in New York State, I stayed involved in education by volunteering in their classrooms, serving on the PTA, and with the Board of Education.
In 2010, I returned to Kaua’i and became re-certified to teach in Hawai’i. I taught kindergarten, first, second, and third grades at Hanalei Elementary School. I now tutor and home-school children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
I live in Princeville with my husband. Between us, we have five children living in California and Hawai’i. Aside from teaching, I enjoy running, paddling outrigger canoes, hiking, cooking, and reading.
Ashley Varela
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Aloha families. My name is Ashley Varela, and I am honored to be joining the Kauai Academics team!
I have worked as a full-time educator for over 14 years now, having earned my bachelor’s degree from Boston University and master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. I started my career through Teach For America, a national teaching program that placed me as an elementary school teacher in Houston, Texas. There, I taught 4th grade for four years and 6th grade for one year, working primarily with native Spanish-speaking students who were still learning English.
I spent the next phase of my career at a 6-12 grade campus as a reading specialist for three years and then later as a dean of instruction for three years. As a reading specialist, I built expertise supporting students with diverse needs ranging from beginning English learners to students with dyslexia, ADHD, and specific learning disabilities. As a dean of instruction, I coached 6-12 grade teachers of all disciplines to effectively reach all learners and equip them for college and other post-secondary options.
When I first moved to Kaua’i in 2023, I worked as a private college counselor helping families from all over the US and over 20 different countries prepare for and navigate the US college admissions process, with acceptances to Cornell, UC Berkeley, USC, Vanderbilt, and more.
In each of these experiences, I’ve come to understand quite deeply that ALL students have highly individualized needs, which means my role as an educator is to help adapt all systems, curricula, and teaching to meet my students’ needs. This, of course, is entirely dependent on cultivating strong relationships with students and their families to understand the need and monitor what’s working and what’s not. That said, I very much look forward to meeting each of you, learning your student’s personality, preferences, and goals, and doing everything in my power to help them achieve those goals.
Whitney Beck
Guiding students to build confidence and develop a genuine love of learning is at the heart of
my work as an educator. My teaching style is patient, supportive, and tailored to each individual
learner.
I earned my Master’s in Teaching from the University of San Francisco in 2019 and completed
student teaching at San Francisco Public Montessori School. During this time, I developed a
strong appreciation for the Montessori approach, with its emphasis on social-emotional learning,
independence, and individualized learning.
While my love for teaching started with helping my mom in her preschool, I have found myself
appreciating the humor and wit of middle schoolers for most of my teaching career. I taught
sixth grade in California's central coast before moving home to Kauai, where I founded Hanalei
Scholars, an independent middle school class. In between my roles as a classroom teacher I
have served as an elementary intervention teacher, home/hospital instructor, and private tutor.
Beyond the classroom you can almost always find me outside, paddling, running, camping,
farming or playing with my toddler, Lucy, at the beach.