EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL
520 West One Street Kahului, Maui
FACULTY & STAFF
Joshua Rempfer
Principal/8th Grade Teacher
M.Ed. Educational Leadership with Administrative Credential (K-12)
Western Governors University (2016)
Master of Science in Secondary Math Education
University of Utah (2013)
BSEd Elementary Education with Math Concentration
LTD Diploma
Concordia University - Seward (2001)
This is Mr. Rempfer’s 7th year at ELS (4th as principal). Before coming to Emmanuel, he taught 5th-8th grade at St. Paul Lutheran School in Ogden, UT for 8 years. He also taught 2nd grade, 7th grade, and worked as Assistant Principal at a charter school in Ogden for 7 years.
Mr. Rempfer met his wife, Koryna, while teaching at St. Paul. They have 3 children, Braun, Bailey, and Bridger (and a nice little dog named Oliver).
Mr. Rempfer loves teaching (especially Math) and being a part of the ELS Ohana. He and his family feel very blessed to be at ELS and love living on Maui. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family, going to various local places for happy hour, watching sports, and playing as much golf as possible.
Eddie Hosch
Pastor
Pastor Eddie has served as a Pastor for 13 years. Prior to coming to Emmanuel he was Pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Emporia, KS and before that he served as a missionary to Lima, Peru.
Pastor met his wife, Melissa, while they were both in college at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS and were married in May 2003. They have 2 amazing children, Lexi and Joe and an 8 year old Beagle named Pepper.
Pastor knows how blessed he is to be a part of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School ohana and is so excited to be here. In his downtime he enjoys time with his family, exploring the island, watching the Kansas City Chiefs, SCUBA diving and snorkeling.
Lihau Lewis
Preschool Director and Teacher
Lihau Lewis was born and raised on Maui. She is an alumnus of Emmanuel Lutheran School, attending from 1991-1998. She grew up at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and is a current active member. Lihau graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska in 2010 where she attained a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Art Education. She also received a Lutheran Teacher’s Diploma from CUNE. Lihau has worked at Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool since 2018.
Drew Smith
Vice Principal/Operations Manager
Bachelors of Science, Business Administration
Management, Finance, Information Systems
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona. (2003)
Masters of Science, Information Systems
System Software Architecture
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. (2016)
Mr. Smith comes to Emmanuel Lutheran School after an 8 year career working as the Director of Technology and Facilities for a Charter School in Northern Utah. He has been involved in technology throughout his 20+ year professional career. Mr. Smith comes from a long line of educators and business acumen, including Superintendents, curriculum directors, principals, and teachers. Mr. Smith is excited to assume the Director of Operations role and help Emmanuel Lutheran School advance it's technical and operational footprint.
Personally, Mr. Smith has a diverse family consisting of 2 older sisters, 6 step-siblings, and a host of nieces and nephews. In his free time he enjoys playing golf as much as possible and Saturdays at the beach.
Ashley Cambra
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Cambra worked for St.Anthony School for nearly 6 years as the Administrative Assistant then transitioned to Assistant Business Manager before joining Emmanuel Lutheran School.
Mrs. Cambra was born and raised on Maui and planted roots here with her husband and 4 children. Her family is a ranching family and are heavily involved in 4H. They raise cattle and goats and bring in pigs when it’s time for the 4H shows.
Mrs. Cambra is happy to have joined the ELS 'Ohana and is excited for this new adventure!
Carrie Davenport
E+Director
Mrs. Davenport began working for the YMCA’s After School Program at Emmanuel in 1994. A couple of years later she approached the Principal with a proposal that ELS run the program - it’s been part of ELS ever since! As the director of the program, Mrs. Davenport works closely with the Dept. of Health to ensure that we meet all standards to maintain our license.
Mrs. Davenport, originally from Long Beach, California, moved to Maui in 1991. In 1992, she met and married her husband, Jesse, here on Maui. In 1998, they had their first and only child, a daughter. She stepped away for a few years when Anna was young, to be a mom, but always kept in touch with ELS. God blessed her by bringing them back to Emmanuel in 2007. Anna attended ELS from the 4th through 8th grade.
“I continue to feel blessed to be an ELS staff member. Emmanuel is my family away from my family! I believe there is so much more to give a child beyond the classroom environment. I’m so very thankful God has chosen me to share this special time of day as a gift to our ELS children through the E-Plus After School Program! “
In her spare time Mrs. Davenport enjoys getting out and exploring the island with her adventurous husband, swimming and living in Kula.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.
Andrea Kaio
Kindergarten and Band Teacher
MAED: Curriculum and Instruction
Christ College/Concordia University, Irvine, CA (2009)
Colloquy Certification/Lutheran Teacher's Diploma
Christ College/Concordia University, Irvine, CA (2003)
BSED: Elementary Education
Chaminade University, Honolulu, HI (1991)
Mrs. Kaio has been teaching kindergarten at Emmanuel Lutheran School since 1995. She considers herself incredibly blessed to be able to share the good news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness with her students everyday.
She counts it a privilege and honor to be partnering with parents in helping their young children develop a love for learning. She loves to encourage her students in developing their musical talents for God’s glory. She teaches band and choir and participates in the worship team at Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
She and her husband, Kaala have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren.
Maile Sjostrand
1st Grade Teacher
BSEd University of Hawaii, Manoa, HI 2013
Colloquy Certification/Lutheran’s Teacher’s Diploma Christ College Concordia University, Irvine, CA 2022
Mrs. Sjostrand began attending Emmanuel Lutheran Church in 1998 while dating her soon to be husband, Leif. Mr. and Mrs. Sjostrand have taught Sunday school for 20 years and continue to support our church in various capacities.
After being a stay at home mom for eight years, Mrs. Sjostrand chose to return to school, so she could teach at Emmanuel Lutheran. The Lord led her to work in the DOE where she taught first grade for 3 years before a position opened up at Emmanuel in 2016. The DOE experience included opening a new school with new curriculum and new standards. She gained experience by collaborating with teams of first grade DOE teachers with many years of experience and varied backgrounds. She has been trained in Reading Wonders and Building Foundational Reading Skills.
Mrs. Sjostrand’s true passion is math. Working with a new 1st grade math curriculum every year for her first 5 years has enabled her to take the best from each curriculum.
Mrs. Sjostrand’s youngest was a first grader when she began teaching which led her to have the same high expectations she had of him with her own first graders. This high expectation continues today. But, ultimately, she really wants to instill in our 1st graders a love for Jesus and a love for learning.
Mr & Mrs. Sjostrand have 3 children - a daughter who graduated from Kamehameha, Maui (2020) and University of Oregon (2023), another daughter who graduated Seabury 2022, attending USC and a son 2025 Seabury graduate - all alumni of Emmanuel Lutheran School.
Elizabeth Reynolds
3rd Grade Teacher
Bachelor of Arts in K-6 Elementary Education
Concordia University, St. Paul (2020)
Ms. Reynolds is from Andover, Minnesota. She comes from a family of teachers including her grandmother, aunts, mother, and sister! Her prior student teaching experience was completed in Minnesota in both kindergarten and 1st grade. She also spent 3 years teaching 5th grade at ELS. Ms. Reynolds now enjoys teaching 3rd grade! Teaching English Language Arts is her favorite subject as she can share her passion of reading with her students. Ms. Reynolds feels grateful to have the opportunity to teach about Jesus in the classroom as her education was completed in public schools and it is a blessing to now have the chance to share the gospel in class. When not at school Ms. Reynolds enjoys going to the beach, reading, cooking, hiking, and spending time with loved ones.
Grace Bradshaw
4th Grade Teacher
Lutheran Teacher’s Diploma
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies EC-6
Concordia University, Austin, Texas (2020)
Miss Bradshaw embarked on her teaching journey at Emmanuel Lutheran School in 2020. Her love for Jesus and his creation drives her to help her students recognize the miracle of God's work in each of them. With K-6 experience, she has particularly enjoyed working with 4th graders. While she enjoys teaching all subjects, literature is her passion.
Beyond her love for teaching, Miss Bradshaw has a variety of interests. She enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends. Her love for nature leads her to explore the beaches and oceans in her free time.
Caleb Hallsten
5th Grade Teacher
Caleb Hallsten was born and raised on Maui. He has spent
the last six years sojourning in other lands, first in Chicago as he got his BA
in Elementary Education. Most recently he lived in Birmingham, completing
an MA in Theology. Caleb's father was a pastor and his mother a teacher, so it
is no surprise that education and the life and ministry of the church are
deep in his heart.
Caleb also enjoys getting into creation, especially hiking and camping, as well as
any excuse to get in the water. He has found himself both compelled and impelled to do much
reading over the years, and it has flourished into a real love for the practice.
A few of his favorites include Bonhoeffer's Life Together, Lewis’ Chronicles
of Narnia, and Schmemann For the Life of the World.
Moving back home, Caleb looks forward to being together with his family and
friends, soaking up the gentle pace and beauty of the island (particularly of the morning sun peaking over Haleakala with the Scriptures and a mug of coffee in hand), and the joy and honor of teaching.
Chloe Fletcher
6th Grade Teacher
M. Ed. in Educational Leadership
STEAM focus
Concordia University, Portland (2019)
Bachelor's Degree
Elementary Education emphasis in Middle School Mathematics
Utah State University (2013)
Colloquy Certification/ Lutheran Teacher's Diploma
Christ College Concordia University (2016)
Irvine, CA
Mrs. Fletcher started teaching in 2013 at Redeemer Lutheran School in Salt Lake City, Utah. After four years as a first and second grade teacher, she joined the faculty of Emmanuel Lutheran School in Maui in 2017 as the sixth grade teacher.
Mrs. Fletcher has a love for both the arts and math/science. She enjoys playing piano, guitar, ukulele, and singing with others. You can find her each week playing for Chapel and Sunday Worship at Emmanuel. In addition, her recent Master's degree in STEAM has empowered her to teach more hands on and engaging math and science with her class. She's been blessed to also teach a STEAM class for the fifth grade class.
When she is not teaching, she loves spending time with her family, including her husband Steven Fletcher, stepchildren Sophia and Isaiah, and kitties Isabel and Amelia. She also enjoys spending time at the beach and exploring the local sights of Maui.
Zach Potratz
7th Grade Teacher
-BSEd Secondary Education with History and Geography Concentration, Lutheran Teachers Diploma (LTD) from Concordia University Nebraska (2022)
Zachary Potratz is from Seward Nebraska. Zach is the 7th Grade homeroom teacher at Emmanuel. Some of Zachs hobbies include being outdoors, watching sports, and watching action movies.
Zach’s favorite Bible verse is his confirmation verse, Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.” Zach likes this verse because it shows that the Gospel is meant for everyone and that we should make it our goal to spread the word of God with everyone. Zach feels truly blessed to be teaching at Emmanuel!
Jacob Jurchen
8th Grade Teacher
Jacob Jurchen was born in Orlando, Florida but has lived in
Nebraska my whole life. Jacob enjoys spending time outdoors with his dog,
especially hiking in the mountains. He is also an avid runner, completing
his first marathon in 2023!
Jacob graduated from Concordia University (Seward) in December of 2023 with
a B.S. in Elementary and Middle Level Lutheran Education. One thing that
is very important to Jacob is his faith. He was born and raised Lutheran. His father served as a Lutheran high school teacher for 14 years and both of his parents now serve at Concordia University in his hometown of Seward. Jacob's family has helped him to grow up strong in the faith, and he considers his faith in Jesus Christ to be the foundation of his life.
As a new Lutheran educator, Jacob looks forward to the opportunity for ministry
as a way to serve the Church. Jacob wants to be a teacher who helps build and
strengthen the faith of the children that he teaches and prepare them for their
own service to Christ and the Church.