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Campbell principal
best in nation
Her work ethic helps Gail Awakuni
become Hawaii's first winner
She sets her sights on the stars and brings her students and staff along, but yesterday Gail Awakuni was floored -- sinking into her chair and clasping her hand over her mouth in disbelief as a muggy, packed gymnasium exploded in cheers.
"Is this for real?" she whispered to Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto, who had just announced that Awakuni had been chosen as the 2005 National High School Principal of the Year.
In just over four years at the helm, Awakuni has catapulted James Campbell High School from a campus that had trouble getting any respect into national prominence. And she did it by guiding, coaxing and working nonstop, staff and students said.
"Our boat has definitely been rocked in a major and very positive way for both teachers and students," said Patty Leahey, who has taught at the Ewa Beach school for more than 30 years. "She has inspired a collective sense of self-esteem in the students, teachers and community."
It is the first time that a Hawaii principal has won the top honor in the competition sponsored by MetLife and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Last year, Leilehua High School Principal Norman Minehira was one of three national finalists.
"She's brought a positive attitude, a new mentality to Campbell," said math teacher Aaron Lee, an Awakuni recruit who helped coach students to Campbell's first state Math Bowl championship in 2003, beating regular winners Punahou and Iolani.
Awakuni, a dynamo who stands less than 5 feet tall, started with basics like student behavior, setting clear expectations and rewarding the positive. She stepped up academic rigor with a new bell schedule, allowing students to earn eight credits a year, rather than six. Teachers get time to collaborate and learn new techniques. Students each have an adult advocate.
The 2,100 students at the school are now grouped into smaller learning communities for more personal instruction. Twilight School and Saturday Credit Club help students catch up outside of regular hours.
"Basically we're here as deliverers of hope, and with that we build people who can succeed," Awakuni said. The results show:
» 466 students made the honor roll last year, up from 350 two years earlier."There used to be a lot of fights, drugs, people cutting class," said senior Po'okela Fernandez. "All that is pau. Nobody's scared for come to school anymore."» Seniors won $4.8 million in scholarships last year, compared with $700,000 in 1999.
» Daily attendance reached 94 percent last year, from 87 percent in 1999.
» Suspension and dropout rates have fallen as the graduation rate rose.
Awakuni, who commutes from East Honolulu, sometimes has to be nudged by her staff to go home at 7 p.m. and has been known to work overnight on campus to get an important application in on time.
"I have asked her, 'Do you ever sleep?' " said Mamo Carreira, complex area superintendent. "I don't think she does. That shows you the deep passion she has."
Said teacher Ligaya Ricafrente: "She's a hands-on leader. She doesn't tell the teachers to go and learn, she's there with us. She made us really work hard, but it all pays off."
Awakuni, who has a doctorate in philosophy, began teaching in 1970 at Radford High and shifted to administration in 1993. She plans to use part of the $5,000 prize she earned for Campbell as America's best principal to build a trophy cabinet to showcase her students' accomplishments.
