Kaimuki High has teacher of year
The Education Board honors six more with a year's lease on a car
Jami Muranaka's approach to teaching is more personal, which she said should result in better student performance.
For the Kaimuki High School science teacher, it also resulted in a new Volkswagen Jetta, $1,500 cash, $14,000 worth of high-tech instructional material and leis stacked past her ears.
Yesterday, the state Board of Education announced its state Teacher of the Year and recognized six other district teachers of the year during its board meeting at the Pearl City Cultural Center.
Each district teacher was awarded $500 from the Polynesian Cultural Center, classroom technology from the SMARTer Kids Foundation and a year's lease on a new car, courtesy of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.
"I get to know the students before I teach them, then students are more willing to learn," said Muranaka, a teacher of 11 years.
Muranaka also is part-time curriculum coordinator at Kaimuki High.
"What I can tell other teachers is to not work in isolation," Muranaka said. "Work with other teachers and take a leadership role in the school."
As of yesterday, Hawaii auto dealers have given out one-year leases of new cars to 50 teachers beginning in 1999, said Eric Fukunaga, president of the auto association.
"One of the keys to our success," Fukunaga said of the association's 5,000 employees across 77 dealerships, "is a well-trained, educated work force."
Yesterday's award ceremony kicked off with a performance from the Polynesian Cultural Center. The center has awarded about $100,000 to district and state teachers of the year in 21 years of sponsorship of the Teacher of the Year program.
Speaking from her experience as a high school teacher, Muranaka said the biggest challenge facing public schools right now is student advancement, especially toward college.
"Teachers really need to be working toward giving them the skills and the motivation to move on," Muranaka said. "Parents need to get more involved, too. It would really help us out."
AND THE WINNERS ARE ...
The state Board of Education announced the Department of Education's seven district teachers of the year. Among the seven, Jami Muranaka of Kaimuki High School was selected as the state teacher of the year. The other winners:
» Allison Carveiro, Kekaha Elementary, Kauai District
» Naidah Gamurot, Kapolei High, Leeward District
» Lizabeth Horii, Mililani Ike Elementary, Central District
» Brett Kewish, Kahuku High and Intermediate, Windward District
» Judy Locke, Kihei Elementary, Maui District
» Jami Muranaka, Kaimuki High, Honolulu District
» Janice Nakagawa, Waiakeawaena Elementary, Hawaii District
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