Buffy Cushman-Patz
Executive Director

Buffy Cushman-Patz, SEEQS's Founder, has explored teaching and learning through the lenses of theory, policy, leadership, and through first-hand experiences as a teacher in both conventional and unconventional settings. Buffy completed her EdM in School Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in May 2012 , with School Development as her concentration. She earned her principal's license while serving as a member of the leadership team of Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In 2010-2011 Buffy was honored with an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship; she served her fellowship year at the National Science Foundation’s Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. Prior to the fellowship, Buffy taught math and science in public, charter, and independent schools in Hawaiʻi. She earned an M.S. in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a B.S. in Geology from the University of Florida. She volunteered with Teachers Without Borders in 2008 and 2010, leading math and science workshops for teachers in South Africa. Buffy served on the Hawaiʻi Public Radio Board of Directors from 2009-2019; she now serves on The Early School’s board of directors.

"Everything we do at SEEQS is with the intent of trying to create the kind of community that we want to be a part of. I work at SEEQS because I love this community of students, teachers, and ʻohana and the work we're doing to try to make the world a better place for ourselves and for others."​