[AT WORK]
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Susan Okoga >> I knew the career I wanted from an early age. Even as a young child, the youngest of five, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. Fortunately, I had many opportunities to help care for nieces and nephews. Preschool director
Susan Okoga always knew she
wanted to work with childrenAfter completing my undergraduate degree, I pursued a master's degree in early childhood education. I had a dream of one day opening my own preschool.
I did a lot of classroom participation as part of my course work. I especially enjoyed working at Tenrikyo Preschool. I started doing volunteer work there, and soon I was asked to substitute teach.
During the summer before graduation, I was offered a full-time teaching job at Tenrikyo. I was elated and yet hesitant. I knew I had a full load at school and my master's degree project still to complete. But that's how I started my teaching career in 1980.
In 1984, St. Andrew's Priory School acquired the Tenrikyo Preschool. The next year, the preschool moved to its present location in upper Nuuanu Valley and became known as the Queen Emma Preschool.
In 1987, another dream came true for me. Although I had always wanted to open my own preschool, I was now offered the opportunity to become the director of Queen Emma Preschool.
The director's job encompasses all the aspects of running a business. I am responsible for talking to prospective parents and helping their children transition into the school environment. I do staff development; purchase supplies and manage the entire facility. I've even pumped the toilets. And occasionally I get to return to my early days when I substitute for a teacher. I also coordinate special events. One of my challenges is getting these things done when they're all happening at the same time!
I enjoy working with my dedicated staff. Early childhood educators are rare people. They must be patient, understanding and have a sense of humor. Queen Emma Preschool has a low staff turnover rate, and I'm very proud of that fact. Three of us have been with the school for more than 20 years, four others for more than 10 years, and at least 10 of our staff members have passed the five-year mark. Some of my former students have returned to volunteer and to substitute teach, and one even became a member of our staff.
But the best part of my job is working with the children. I visit each class daily and look forward to all the hugs and smiles. I have even watched as students I taught became parents and then sent their own children to Queen Emma Preschool. Now the moms and dads of those parents are returning to us as grandparents.
It's been a wonderful experience to see shy and often insecure children beginning their first days of school and to watch them grow and mature into confident learners ready for the challenges of kindergarten. It's amazing how much development happens in the early years, a truth that often reminds me of the reason I became an early childhood educator.
At Work is a weekly feature that shows and tells what people do for a living in their own words. Send comments and submissions to: business@starbulletin.com