Top Teachers
Saturday, May 18, 1998
Name: Carol Okimoto
Age: 50
Position: Aiea High School teacher
Education: Chaminade University
Pastimes: Swimming
Carol Okimoto got a welcome surprise from an unexpected visitor two months ago. Setting an example in life
A nicely dressed man stood outside her classroom and asked, "You don't remember me, do you?" He introduced himself as Segundo, who took Okimoto's mass media class 14 years ago.
Suddenly, Segundo whipped out a bouquet of flowers and hugged her.
He thanked her for being the only teacher who treated him with respect.
Apparently, Segundo was on drugs in high school and flunked most of his classes, Okimoto said. But he decided to come clean three years ago, and now he and his wife own a business.
"It definitely reminds me how we, and sometimes not even knowingly, impact the lives and the decisions of our students," said Okimoto, who teaches news writing, language arts, yearbook and photography at Aiea High School.
Last month, Okimoto got the 1998 HSTA Outstanding Teacher of the Year award from Aiea High School.
"When I think of Carol, I think of someone who's always promoting the welfare of her students," Principal Gary Griffiths said.
Okimoto, who's been teaching at Aiea for 27 years, consistently meets deadlines and sets a good example for students, Griffiths said.
"If the system had all kinds of Carols, what a wonderful system it would be," he said.
Shirley Iida, special to the Star-Bulletin
