Blog

Insights and updates from Tradewinds School

Meet Our Newest Board Member and Advisor

By Andy Szybalski • January 1, 1970

Jason Gelles, Emmy-winning writer and producer, joins our board of directors. Dr. Tanya Gamby, VP of AI Learner Development at SNHU, joins as an advisor.

We Hired Two Remarkable Teachers

By Andy Szybalski • January 1, 1970

We received over 100 applications as part of our nationwide teacher search. Meet Amber Spahn and Julia Hunckler, the two extraordinary educators joining Tradewinds.

The Laboratory Vision: From One School to Something Bigger

By Andy Szybalski • May 4, 2026

The goal is for Tradewinds to be a laboratory for educational innovation. A place where we can develop new approaches to teaching gifted students, test them rigorously, and share what works.

Class Size: 8 Students Per Teacher

By Andy Szybalski • April 27, 2026

Most schools put 20-30 students in a classroom with one teacher. The math makes everything else harder. At Tradewinds, our ratio is 8:1.

Inquiry Process: The Same Rigorous Thinking, Regardless of Discipline

By Andy Szybalski • April 23, 2026

At most schools, math class feels like math class, science feels like science, and art feels like art. At Tradewinds, the thinking process is the same everywhere.

Social Needs: Being Themselves and Connecting with Others

By Andy Szybalski • April 10, 2026

One of the most common concerns we hear from parents of gifted kids: my child has no real peers. The second most common: how do I balance their intellectual needs with their social needs?

Open House & Admissions Info Session — April 29

By Andy Szybalski • April 7, 2026

Our Kaimuki campus renovation is coming together, and we're ready to welcome visitors. Join us April 29 for an open house and admissions info session.

Tradewinds is a K-8 School - and We're Enrolling Now

By Andy Szybalski • April 3, 2026

A few updates from Tradewinds as we approach our August 2026 opening: we're a K-8 school, currently admitting K-5, and enrollment is open for Fall 2026.

Supporting Gifted Intensities: The Five Overexcitabilities

By Andy Szybalski • April 1, 2026

Most people think gifted means good at school. Gifted means your brain is wired differently. And that wiring shows up in ways that go far beyond academics.

Transdisciplinary Work: Following the Rabbit Holes

By Andy Szybalski • March 31, 2026

A real unit we're designing for Tradewinds: students become the Water Protectors Team, investigating aquifer contamination using science, math, social studies, and communication.

Pattern Recognition: How Gifted Minds Actually Work

By Andy Szybalski • March 20, 2026

Ask a typical eight-year-old what happened in a story, and they'll tell you the plot. Ask a gifted eight-year-old, and they'll tell you why the character made that choice.

Gifted Education: A Policy Gap Nobody Talks About

By Andy Szybalski • March 17, 2026

Studies consistently show that 30-50% of gifted students master grade-level material before instruction begins. We have robust interventions for students below grade level. We have almost nothing for students above it.

Three Wrong Conversations About AI in Education (and the One We Should Be Having)

By Andy Szybalski • March 11, 2026

I've spent the last year talking to educators, parents, and tech people about AI in schools. Three conversations keep coming up. All three are wrong.

The Conversation Is the Assessment

By Andy Szybalski • March 11, 2026

The entire "teach then test" structure is an engineering compromise — and we forgot it was a compromise. Here's what happens when small class sizes and AI put learning and assessment back together.

Teachers with Superpowers: AI Behind the Curtain

By Andy Szybalski • February 24, 2026

Good teachers already differentiate instruction. The problem is doing it well for 20+ students is exhausting. What if teachers had AI working behind the curtain?

The Timeless Skill: Clear Thinking and Clear Language

By Andy Szybalski • February 17, 2026

After 20 years in tech, from Google Street View to AI startups, one skill has stayed constant: clear thinking and clear language. That's what we teach at Tradewinds.

Flipping the Script: AI That Asks Questions Instead of Giving Answers

By Andy Szybalski • February 10, 2026

Most people think AI in education means AI that answers questions. What if we flipped the script? At Tradewinds, we're building AI that makes students think harder, not smarter.

Watch: Our Admissions Info Session with Head of School Carl Sabatino

By Andy Szybalski • February 9, 2026

Head of School Carl Sabatino walks through Tradewinds School's educational philosophy, curriculum framework, and admissions process in this 53-minute recorded presentation.

A Successful Info Session and an Invitation to Join Us This Sunday

By Andy Szybalski • January 22, 2026

Yesterday's Admissions Info Session was a success, with great conversations about gifted education in Hawaiʻi. If you missed it, the recording will be sent out soon. Meanwhile, join us this Sunday at the Hawaii K-12 Parent & School Expo at Bishop Museum.

Financial Aid Applications Now Open for Fall 2026

By Andy Szybalski • January 20, 2026

We're excited to share that financial aid applications are now open for families applying to Tradewinds School. Applications are open for grades K–5 and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Campus Transformation Underway: A Sneak Peek at Our New Learning Spaces

By Andy Szybalski • January 18, 2026

Demolition started yesterday at our new 1041 10th Avenue campus. What was once a traditional classroom building is now on its way to becoming something entirely different: a learning environment designed from the ground up to support deep, student-driven work.

We've Secured Our Campus in Kaimukī

By Andy Szybalski • January 16, 2026

I've been waiting for weeks for the moment when I could share this news: we've secured our campus! Tradewinds School will be located at 1041 10th Avenue in Kaimukī.

Future City Design Class + January Info Session Details

By Andy Szybalski • January 9, 2026

Last-chance learning opportunity: Future City Design from Cresconova Global Courses, plus a reminder about our January 21 Admissions Info Session at Treehouse Coworking in Kahala.

Now Accepting Kindergarten Applications + Online Assessment Booking

By • January 8, 2026

Two updates for families considering Tradewinds for Fall 2026: we are now accepting kindergarten applications, and online booking for cognitive assessments is available.

Cognitive Assessment: What Families Need to Know

By Andy Szybalski • January 1, 2026

A cognitive assessment is a required part of the Tradewinds admissions process. Here's what families need to know about the WISC-V, how to find a provider, and why these assessments matter for understanding your child's learning profile.

January Admissions Info Session: Understanding Gifted Education

By Andy Szybalski • December 19, 2025

Join us January 21 for a conversation with Head of School Carl Sabatino about what gifted education actually looks like. We'll explore the difference between 'schoolhouse gifted' and gifted, and whether Tradewinds might be the right fit for your family.