Hawaii Education Association Sponsors Interactive Sessions to
Empower Educators to Face Challenging Needs of Students
without Crossing the Ethical Lines
“In Their Own Words: Teacher Stories of Compassion and Resilience”
TO REGISTER, CLICK BELOW:
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 26, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Creating Communities of Care for Hawaii’s Educators
Educators in the classroom know all too well that it takes much more than being adept at teaching an academic subject to be effective. In Hawaii, as elsewhere across the nation, more educators are having to address complex social challenges facing students in their homes that may hinder learning at school.
Driven by their strong inclination to help their students be successful, educators tend to want to support these students, and as a result, inadvertently may find themselves in ethical dilemmas that can call their integrity into question and put their profession and livelihood in jeopardy.
“We know that families have always had to deal with the challenges of Hawaii’s high cost of living, and unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse. There is no doubt stress in the home is adversely impacting our students’ ability to focus on learning,” said Joan Lewis, HEA’s board president. “It’s time to bring these issues to the forefront so that teachers know how to respond in these situations.”
“We owe it to Hawaii’s teachers who give so much of themselves for our students to explore solutions with them. HEA is committed to helping to create communities of care for them” Joan added. “This is an opportunity to empower them with insights and surround them with the support they need. We want to let all Hawaii educators know they are not alone and that the HEA is committed to helping to create communities of care for them.”
HEA has invited Troy Hutchings, Ed.D., senior policy advisor for the National Association for the State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), who has conducted extensive research on the real-life challenges teachers face on the front lines, to lead interactive sessions to help Hawaii educators better understand and respond circumspectly to these challenges by exploring the following questions:
How does one act with compassion as a practitioner? What does compassion look like in the context of distinctly unique schooling communities? At what point should we provide personal assistance to students or colleagues outside the scope of prescribed duties? What shall we do when we feel ourselves becoming consumed by the needs of a singular situation? How far is too far?
“The answers are most likely not found in policy or statute,” Dr. Hutchings said. “Nor can they be relegated to simply completing an ethics check-the-box training at the beginning of the school year.”
Dr. Hutchings, who spends several months each year in Hawaii, will share anecdotes he has collected from educators across the country, including those in Hawaii, as part of his qualitative research on the subject. He researches, writes, and speaks on professional ethics, educator misconduct, and frameworks for an ethical and legal teaching practice. He is a sought-after subject matter expert on a variety of national projects dealing with educator ethics, including the Model Code of Ethics for Educators and the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics.
“The stories I share may be from different states, but they have a common underlying theme,” he said. “The real scenarios will definitely resonate with Hawaii teachers.”
Dr. Lynn Hammonds, HEA’s Program Manager who oversees professional development, noted: “Dr. Hutchings conducted a compelling series of in-person sessions in Hawaii on developing communities of care in March and April, and we look forward to welcoming him back to share his expertise in virtual sessions on this timely topic. Whether for yourself or to know how to be a more helpful colleague, these practical sessions will offer something for all Hawaii educators.”
