New FRIENDS!
Meet the volunteers behind FRIENDS of Sullivan's Island Elementary School, whose passion, generosity, and vision help ensure the island's youngest residents have every opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Inspo for spread
Few places are fortunate enough to have a neighborhood school nestled between the marsh and the Atlantic, where students learn not only in classrooms but from the remarkable island that surrounds them. Beginning this month, we're proud to welcome Sullivan's Island Elementary School to the pages of Stroll Sullivan's Island. Each issue, we'll celebrate student achievements, share campus news, highlight events and fundraisers, and introduce the people whose dedication helps make this beachfront school so special.
We couldn't think of a better way to begin than by introducing the board of FRIENDS of Sullivan's Island Elementary School, led by Board President Paige Hauff. Together with school leadership, FRIENDS provides vital support for faculty, programs, equipment, and opportunities that enrich the educational experience of our island's smallest stewards.
The Hauff Family
The Sullivan’s Island Elementary School (SIES) song theme, "Learning by the Sea," truly represents everything the school stands for. I have been fortunate to watch my oldest daughter, now a rising freshman at UC Boulder, grow through her experiences at SIES. Seeing my rising 4th grader follow in her footsteps is incredibly rewarding. I love that they have shared the same experiences, from planting seeds in the Green Heart Garden to enjoying recess on the beach and studying the coastal environment through the school's fish tanks.
Serving on Friends of SIES has been one of my most meaningful volunteer experiences. It is a privilege to see firsthand how our funding directly impacts the lives of students, staff and caregivers, making SIES such a special place for "Learning by the Sea."
The Craven Family
My love for my family and this community is my motivation for helping SIES be the best school.
It will be the school my kids are at the longest in their academic career. How the school compliments the community and how the community compliments the school drive my efforts with Friends to make SIES the best learning environment possible.
The Price Family
My family has been fortunate to be involved with the Friends of SIES for the past eight years. Coming from a family of educators, we understand the importance of supporting our local public schools. I attended Sullivan’s Island Elementary School as a kid, and Kevin attended Buist Academy in Charleston. It is neat to see our kids participate in some of the same school traditions that we did as kids. We are grateful for the expanded opportunities that Friends of SIES provides to the school such as a Spanish exposure program, Green Heart gardening program, aquarium enhancements, and additional teachers to keep class sizes low.
The Kaloupek Family
Serving on the FRENDS Board for Sullivan's Island Elementary is deeply personal to me. My son, who passed away from cancer in March 2026 at age 13, loved his school, his teachers, and the incredible community that surrounds it. Being part of FRENDS allows me to honor his memory while supporting a place that meant so much to him. It is a meaningful way to give back, help create lasting opportunities for students, and stay connected to the school community he cherished.
The Moye Family
It will be the school my kids are at the longest in their academic career. How the school compliments the community and how the community compliments the school drive my efforts with Friends to make SIES the best learning environment possible.
The Price Family
My family has been fortunate to be involved with the Friends of SIES for the past eight years. Coming from a family of educators, we understand the importance of supporting our local public schools. I attended Sullivan’s Island Elementary School as a kid, and Kevin attended Buist Academy in Charleston. It is neat to see our kids participate in some of the same school traditions that we did as kids. We are grateful for the expanded opportunities that Friends of SIES provides to the school such as a Spanish exposure program, Green Heart gardening program, aquarium enhancements, and additional teachers to keep class sizes low.
The Kaloupek Family
Serving on the FRENDS Board for Sullivan's Island Elementary is deeply personal to me. My son, who passed away from cancer in March 2026 at age 13, loved his school, his teachers, and the incredible community that surrounds it. Being part of FRENDS allows me to honor his memory while supporting a place that meant so much to him. It is a meaningful way to give back, help create lasting opportunities for students, and stay connected to the school community he cherished.
The Moye Family
SIES is family history for us: my dad was a student in the 60s, my mom taught gifted and talented here with help from FRIENDS-funding, and I'm proud to keep that connection going. As a former Spanish teacher, I know how much enrichment programs (especially those that expose kids to language and the wider world) can mean. FRIENDS makes those experiences possible, and I want to be part of that.
The Raminski Family
Our family believes great public schools are built by strong communities. Serving on Friends of SIES is a meaningful way to give back, support our incredible teachers and students, and help strengthen the community that makes SIES such a special place for every child.
The Ebenhoeh Family
For years I watched FRIENDS from the sidelines, admiring the parents who gave their time to fund things like our Green Heart gardens, additional teacher salaries and the dismissal software that keeps our car line running smoothly. Joining as Treasurer let me take the financial discipline I'd built over my career and redirect it toward something more personal than any client engagement—ensuring my own kids, and every child at SIES, have the resources they need to thrive. What keeps me showing up isn't the spreadsheets, it's the people: teachers' gratitude when they get the support they need, and kids thriving in a garden they helped plant. Being Treasurer is just my way in; the real reward is being part of something bigger, built by a community that shows up for every child.
The Raminski Family
Our family believes great public schools are built by strong communities. Serving on Friends of SIES is a meaningful way to give back, support our incredible teachers and students, and help strengthen the community that makes SIES such a special place for every child.
The Ebenhoeh Family
For years I watched FRIENDS from the sidelines, admiring the parents who gave their time to fund things like our Green Heart gardens, additional teacher salaries and the dismissal software that keeps our car line running smoothly. Joining as Treasurer let me take the financial discipline I'd built over my career and redirect it toward something more personal than any client engagement—ensuring my own kids, and every child at SIES, have the resources they need to thrive. What keeps me showing up isn't the spreadsheets, it's the people: teachers' gratitude when they get the support they need, and kids thriving in a garden they helped plant. Being Treasurer is just my way in; the real reward is being part of something bigger, built by a community that shows up for every child.