"Two Oahu science teachers have received this year’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. One of them, Wrayna Fairchild was recognized for her teaching at Voyager Public Charter School. Each recipient received a $10,000 award and a certificate signed by President Joe Biden. The Presidential Awards are the highest recognition teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in kindergarten through high school can earn from the federal government." 

"A veteran biology and Advanced Placement environmental science teacher at Waiakea High on Hawaii island is one of four finalists for 2022 National Teacher of the Year, the Council of Chief State School Officers recently announced. Whitney Aragaki, named 2022 Hawaii Teacher of the Year in December, was selected from 56 educators around the United States and territories to be in the running for the top national recognition by a selection committee made up of representatives from 19 education organizations."

"Closing the Circle," an essay by Erin Medeiros, written for the What School Could Be and MLTSinHawaii Alumni Special Newsletter. Excerpt: "School ought to be predictable. Teachers and students should be able to spend days where some things are certain: safety, learning, challenge. But school should be a place of possibility too, where there is a palpable sense that something mysterious and meaningful and memorable may unfold. Here I know that school is both, that tomorrow I will wrap my mouth around new words, that my kids will teach me something I never learned in school, and that there is a pretty good chance my students will care so much for this place that they will be the next ones to mālama and teach its stories." Click on Erin's photo to read her essay posted to the Most Likely to Succeed Facebook page.

Named by Hawaiʻi Business Magazine as one of its 20 for the Next 20, "Kevin Matsunaga, in his 21 years at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, has taught over a thousand students how to use cameras and editing software, and how to conduct interviews and tell stories. He emphasizes that the digital media program also teaches students important life skills, like how to work in teams, meet deadlines, communicate effectively and solve problems. 'Our goal has never been to produce that next Spielberg,' he says. 'It’s always been to just give them opportunities that they would never have had in a regular classroom.'"

Named by Hawaiʻi Business Magazine as one of its 20 for the Next 20, "David Sun-Miyashiro says that at the start of the pandemic, he saw teachers scramble to hold classes virtually. And he found the distribution of computers was less a problem than students’ access to the internet. 'Internet subscriptions are expensive, or maybe it’s a family of five kids sharing one cellphone hot spot to do Zoom. That’s just totally inadequate,' he says. So with grants from partners like Kamehameha Schools and Teach For America, HawaiiKidsCAN launched 'Wifi on Wheels' in September 2020 – two buses equipped with internet hot spots that parked in areas of need. As of January 2022, there are eight active Wifi on Wheels sites spread across O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island.'"

In March 2021, Stephanie Malia Krauss released her first book, Making It: What Today’s Kids Need for Tomorrow’s World. It outlines the four “life currencies” that young people will need to secure economic and education opportunities in the global market—and how adults can help them build those currencies. Now she is writing her SECOND book, titled Whole Child, Whole Life Learning: 10 Strategies to Help Kids Thrive Now and in the Future!

Julie Mowrer, at The Center for Community Engagement at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo has launched a program to help students build relationships with people and organizations in the local community. Mowrer found funding for the program through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER), which directs funds to help local communities through impacts of the covid pandemic. Julie is being supported by Robert Landau of Two Roads Education, LLC, which is doing Clifton Strengths assessments and development for each of the six emerging leaders.

Aaron Schorn has been named the Head of Community and Growth at Unrulr. Aaron is a craftsman and a storyteller. He is an educator and entrepreneur who co-designs learning programs centered in youth agency, authenticity and storytelling.

Luke Ritchie at the Annesley School in Australia has released a new film titled "Enterprise at Annesley." It details what it's like when a school goes all in for student-driven, product-based, problem-based, challenge-based, authentic teaching and learning. Click on Luke's photo to access this short film!

Chris Balme has launched a blog! He writes: "We all know there is more potential within us than our schools know how to access. How do we become loving and wise, kind and aware? How do we access our fullest gifts of the intellect, body and heart? My passion is to explore human potential and understand how to reach more of it. I’ve launched and led youth programs, founded and led a laboratory school based on developmental science, and now I write, speak, and train on how to evolve our schools and our parenting." Click on Chris's photo to access his writings.

Denise Karratti, whose episode will post on April 10th has moved from Chiefess Kamakahele Middle School on Kauai and is now a vice-principal in training at Waimea High School. Her principal, Mahina Anguay, calls Denise a "game changer," who has helped rethink almost every phase of operations, teaching and learning. Denise was a Hawaiʻi State Teacher Fellow and recently finished a RISEHI cohort experience.

DreamHouse Center in Kapolei will, in partnership with Avalon Development, house a new high school of "great expectations." Our commitment to empowering homegrown leaders for our islands would not be possible without the shared vision and partnership of Avalon to create and bring DreamHouse Center to life,” said Alex Teece, founder and Chief Education Officer for DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach.

Education Minnesota unveiled 77 educators up for its annual Teacher of the Year award. The list will be trimmed to a group of semi-finalists, then a group of finalists. Among those nominated are Janelle Field from Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Public Schools. Go Janelle!

Honolulu-based agricultural technology firm Smart Yields has named Ryan Ozawa as its new CEO. He takes on the new leadership role after more than six years as the company's co-founder and chief marketing officer. Ozawa, who became CEO on Jan. 1, is also a community engagement consultant for Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, and director of communications of Hawaii Information Service. "I wear more hats than the average person," Ozawa quipped.

Molokai High School Principal, Katina Soares has been named to the Hawaiʻi State Teacher Standards Board! The HTSB is responsible for setting and reviewing teacher licensing standards, issuing and renewing teacher licenses, approving teacher education programs, and other related duties.

Former Kanoelani Elementary School Principal Stacie Kunihisa has become the Interim Director of the HIDOE Leadership Institute. The purpose of the Leadership Institute is to develop leadership capacity system-wide, preparing our leaders to implement systemic change and transform schools to secure the futures of the children we serve. Previously, as a principal, she was selected as the 2020-21 LifeChanger of the Year Spotlight Award winner.,

The shaka! The iconic Hawaiian gesture is about to go big. A new documentary, Shaka, the Power of Aloha is wrapping up production. Steve Sue, director and writer of the film, notes that it will release in 2023 and that today, more than ever, the world needs the secrets to optimism, tolerance, resourcefulness, cooperation and living with aloha. He is honored to be entrusted with this story and is in with both feet. 

At a 2021 presentation to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents, Matt Lynch, Director of Sustainability Initiatives for the 10 campuses asked: "How can the university turn all of its resources towards creating transformative education for life in harmony with nature? How can we become a driver and a catalyst for the green economic transformation that our state needs so much? We are well positioned to be a catalyst and the driver for that green economic transformation here in Hawaiʻi, and the world, but only if we decide to make the strategic investments necessary for us to live into our full potential.

Jonathon Medeiros has been teaching and learning about Language Arts and rhetoric for 15 years with students on Kauaʻi, Hawai’i. Recently, his wonderful essay on the Hawaiian concept of kilo was published at Getting Smart's website, which gets a lot of traffic. "We need spaces beyond normal where the imperfect, uncertain, and always incomplete work of learning can happen; we must find spaces where students can explore the edges of their lives." Click on Jonathon's photo to read the essay.  

Robert Pennybacker is the PBS Hawai‘i Vice President for Learning Initiatives and Executive Producer of HIKI NŌ. He was also the driving force behind a new film which aired in primetime: "HIKI NŌ and the Healing Power of Storytelling goes behind the scenes of an unforgettable Student Reflection to explore the cathartic power of storytelling during the trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic." To watch the film, click on the image.

Serena Cox was named one of the 15 Hawaiʻi Department of Education's complex area teachers of the year (for Kauai): She wrote: "As a public school educator, I have been tasked with the opportunity to change young lives and educate the next generation. While there may be ups and downs along the way, in my opinion, there is no other job that carries the joy and power of shaping tomorrow's future." Serena is now a VP at Waimea Canyon Middle School.

Art and Rene Kimura co-organized the 19th annual tribute to Hawaiʻi astronaut Charles Lacy Veach, hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium (HSGC), which pivoted to a virtual event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery was a success, as the program has been viewed more than 1,200 times since it was presented live in late October. Art and Rene keep telling folks they have retired, but I have not seen evidence of that...yet.

Amber Makaiau, the Director of the Hanahauoli School, Center for Professional Development started (during the pandemic) a blog about progressive education. Amber, and her guest writers, are incredible and have much to say about student-driven, student-centered, joyful teaching and learning. Tap on her photo to access the blog.