Top Teachers
Saturday, July 25, 1998
Name: Naomi Beals
Age: 53
Position: Art resource teacher, Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School
Education: BYU
Pastimes: Jewelry-making, bird-watching
Naomi Beals is fascinated with beads. Fostering success through art
Four years has seen the former art resource teacher transforming old bead necklaces into modern, art deco-like creations. She haunts rummage sales for bargain beads, then spends anywhere from a few minutes to a few days on a piece, depending on the complexity of the design.
"It's more a novelty kind of thing," she said.
For Beals, jewelry-making is a hobby, a venture that produced a hundred creations and a wad of "pocket money." Now that she's retired, she has more time for her craft -- although her retirement is bittersweet.
Budget cuts at Hilo's Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary led to the art program and Beals' position being axed. She decided never to teach again.
"She will be missed," said Principal Art Kimura. Through art she addressed student literacy, encouraging students "to express their own talents in the fine arts while providing relevant content, knowledge and activities."
The art program, Beals said, had changed students dramatically.
"You pick up a lot of kids who normally wouldn't be successful in a lot of areas. (They) gained an appreciation for things around them."
Beals said she hoped the program would be reinstituted, as it gave students hope. "There's no right or wrong (in art) -- it's all enjoyment. And the successes were outstanding," she said.
Kimberly K. Fu, Star-Bulletin
