Inspiring the Next Generation of Educators

The best way to learn about something is to dive right in. That’s exactly what more than 200 high school students from a dozen public schools did! They gathered for the third annual “Dive Into Education” event ready to learn more about the teaching profession from Hawai‘i educators. The event, held at Leeward Community College on Nov. 21, also included a college and career fair.

The event was planned and coordinated by Tammy Yoon, a teacher at Pearl City High School for the past 20 years, and Daphne Okunaga, an instructional strategist with Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education. Hawai‘i Education Association (HEA) was the lead sponsor of the event, thanks to State of Hawai‘i grant-in-aid funds. The Hawai‘i Department of Education, Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education, Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, Hawai‘i State Teachers Association, and the University of Hawai‘i system provided in-kind contributions and volunteer support.

Students came from Campbell High School, Farrington High School, Kailua High School, Kalani High School, Leilehua High School, Mililani High School, Pearl City High School, and Waipahu High School on O‘ahu; Maui High School in Kahului, and Konawaena High School in Kealakekua, in Kona and Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School on Hawai‘i Island. These schools all participate in the Teaching as a Profession program or have Educators Rising clubs.

HEA President Joan Kamila Lewis welcomed the students and introduced keynote speaker Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke who shared how she came to Hawai‘i from South Korea when she was nine years old and didn’t know any English. She recalled how her teachers helped to mentor her, and a science teacher at Roosevelt High School inspired her to learn more about fruit flies and DNA.

Each student had the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions on topics to help students prepare for their teaching careers.