HEA Continues to Invest in Future Teachers
It is amazing what high school students in Teaching As A Career clubs can accomplish with a $200 HEA grant. With the guidance of their advisors, resourceful students at six deserving high school teaching clubs recently developed and implemented programs to help them gain real-world experience in teaching.
Congratulations to the students and club advisors at Campbell High School, Farrington High School, Leilehua High School, Mililani High School, and Pearl City High School on Oahu and to Konawaena High School on Hawaii Island!
James Campbell High School
At James Campbell High School, the students in the Teaching as a Profession and Educators Rising programs used their HEA grant to acquire storybooks, art supplies, including glitter glue and googly eyes, and social-emotional learning tools, to bring their lesson plans to life. The students served as interns at Ilima Intermediate, Kaimiloa Elementary, Pohakea Elementary, and James Campbell High School, earning praise from mentor teachers for their professional preparation and engagement.
The grant also allowed six students to lead interactive goal-setting workshops at the Campbell Kapolei Complex Educators Redefined event to inspire other students to consider a future in the field of education. The James Campbell High School students are now preparing for a fullday immersion experience at Seagull School at Ocean Pointe preschool where they will serve as guest teachers to assist in leading storytime and managing daily classroom activities.
Farrington High School
Farrington High School students in photos above, used their HEA grant to implement an Apron Story, an interactive reading project with students at Kalihi Kai and Kapalama Elementary Schools. The students received a blank apron that they decorated with props to engage the younger students. The hands-on project encouraged the students to use their strengths and creativity for a meaningful storytelling activity.
Konawaena High School
Konawaena High School established its first-ever Education Rising club, starting off with six enthusiastic students interested in pursuing careers in education. The club followed the Hawaii P-20 curriculum and participated in both the Dive into Education conference and the Education Rising Club competition held last year. The HEA grant helped cover the team’s competition registration fees.
During the competition, members participated in the bulletin board challenge and interview event. One student earned second place in the interview event. It was a great opportunity for the club members to learn what others are doing and the types of projects in statewide competitions.
The mini sessions offered during both the competition and the Dive into Education conference provided valuable insights into lesson planning and helped students reflect on their purpose as future educators in Hawaii.
Leilehua High School
Leilehua High School’s Foundations of Education (Year 1) students successfully led a STEM lesson for kindergarteners to learn engineering design processes to build and test boats made from craft supplies. This opportunity helped the first-year students transition from classroom theory to applying their knowledge in a real-world, hands-on setting with young learners.
In addition, the second- and third-year students (TAP 1 and TAP 2) competed in the recent FCCLA State Leadership Conference with amazing results: every participant earned first place in their respective categories! See photo above. These students are now qualified to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer.
Mililani High School
The Mililani High School students used their HEA grant to lead mini craft workshops for children each weekend throughout November and December 2025. The students also developed a daily pilina (community building activities) to foster community building and social-emotional awareness. These lessons were targeted at student peers and modified for different grade levels. As a result of both activities, students were able to demonstrate compassion and empathy for the students they worked with as well as with their peers. In addition, students were given the opportunity to demonstrate organizational skills and time management. They also had to adapt and think on their feet when their lesson or activity did not go as planned. Using their critical thinking skills, students learned the importance of preparation and reflection.
Pearl City High School
Pearl City High School’s Teaching as a Profession (TAP) students participated in a field trip to the Hawaii Children’s Discovery
Center alongside a Community-Based Instruction (CBI) class. This gave the students a chance to interact with and support CBI students while observing child development and learning in a real-world setting. It helped them make connections between what they discussed in class and what teaching actually looks like.
The TAP students used the $200 grant to purchase supplies for a carnival that they planned and led for the CBI classes. The students created the games and activities and were responsible for running them. This gave them opportunities to give directions, support students, and keep everyone engaged in a fun and inclusive way.
The students gained more confidence in working with diverse learners. They were able to apply what they had been learning about communication, patience, and engagement in both the field trip and the carnival. It was clear students learn best by actually doing the work and interacting with others.
