For a small group of nine soon-to-be teachers receiving help from Kaua‘i’s blooming non-profit Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i, the age-old mantra “practice makes perfect” holds special meaning. In their final semester at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
For a small group of nine soon-to-be teachers receiving help from Kaua‘i’s blooming non-profit Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i, the age-old mantra “practice makes perfect” holds special meaning.
In their final semester at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa these individuals are required to student teach full-time, which historically has been a burden for many so they drop out. Not only does this ruin their dreams but it also causes larger problems for public education on Kaua‘i, forcing administrators to look to the mainland for qualified teachers.
That is where Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i comes in.
The now 501c3 foundation began in 2006 when Dr. Ka‘ani Blackwell approached the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay and proposed fundraising for a program that would provide financial assistance to students so they could finish their last semester of their teaching degree. While it provides immediate relief for the teacher candidates in need, it has also had a lasting positive effect on schools in Kaua‘i.
“I can’t imagine going into teaching without having had some of the mentoring and the experience with the students in the classroom,” said teacher candidate Ryan McGill.
Since its start, over $180,000 has been raised, according to the nonprofit’s president, George Corrigan. Each spring that money is given out in $4,000 increments as scholarships for each candidate who applies for financial aid.
“They can spend it on tuition, car payments, food … whatever they need to get through the semester,” Corrigan said.
The scholarship has helped 39 teachers earn their certification and become employed at schools on Kaua‘i. To this day, 38 of the 39 are still teaching here.
“The quality of teachers that come out of this program blows me away,” said Corrigan.
Also, since the program started in 2006, no off-island teachers have been hired on Kaua‘i, something Corrigan is very proud of.
“One of the principals I talked to thanked me for giving him a choice,” said Corrigan. “Usually, they can’t interview several people if they are recruiting teachers from the Mainland. Now they get to.”
While candidates from the Mainland may initially be enticed by a job on Kaua‘i because the salary looks higher or the beauty of the island is calling their name, there are setbacks that cause many of them to leave. They may get homesick, can’t keep up with the higher cost of living or don’t adjust well to the different culture on island.
“Having local people in schools is so important,” said Corrigan, “because you understand the culture and how (students) live.”
From McGill’s perspective, student teaching is essential because being mentored one on one by an experienced teacher lets him expand his schooling and take it farther than any book ever could.
“It’s the little practical things that I think would overwhelm a beginning teacher … just the little things, like how to manage the flow of mornings, getting attendance and getting the momentum of the classroom going,” said McGill.
McGill notes that this experience directly benefits the students because they get a teacher who is highly qualified and has had the opportunity to try different strategies in the classroom and really see what works.
“You can learn all sorts of theory but unless you practice that and you see these different strategies … you can learn a little bit from everybody’s different strategy,” said McGill of his experiences with each of his three teacher mentors.
Right now, Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i operates solely in elementary schools on the island. However, in the future, the non-profit hopes to expand their opportunities to include secondary schools as well as the option to assist teachers in pursuing higher certification levels as well.
Funding for scholarships is dependent upon charitable donations. With the help of Rotary Clubs around the island, the non-profit is involved with numerous fundraising events, including an annual garage sale, winter concert and this year’s car wash at Kukui Grove Center, among other things. Teacher candidates volunteer at many, if not all, of the events in an effort to help give back some of what they have been gifted.
Visit www.growkauaiteachers.org for more information about Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i or for a schedule of their upcoming events.
• Ali Vandergon, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or by emailing avandergon@thegardenisland.com.
