GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM State Teacher of the Year Sheri Kojima of Waiakea High School, right, got a hug yesterday from Central Oahu Teacher of the Year Joanne Fujita Oshiro during ceremonies at Radford High School.

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Hilo instructor
is Teacher of Year

Students in Kojima's business classes
run a credit union and store

Business teacher Sheri Kojima's classroom at Waiakea High School features a fully functioning student-run credit union, part of her drive to make her lessons relevant.

For these and other innovations and a strong commitment to her students, Kojima was named Hawaii's 2006 State Teacher of the Year yesterday.

"The key to success in today's work force is to make yourself marketable," said Kojima, who also is a graduate of Waiakea High in Hilo.

"I teach students to look within themselves and search for these talents, strengths, skills and abilities."

Kojima's students run the credit union, which is an official branch of the local credit union, complete with an operating ATM, tellers and security cameras. Students use the credit union to help finance other educational business projects.

Her students also operate a school store through which they have developed ties with Big Island businesses and learn real-world lessons about marketing and merchandising.

Kojima considered a career in business but settled on teaching due to the positive influence many teachers had on her life.

As a student, she performed two grade levels behind in math, but a teacher took Kojima under her wing and turned that around.

"I'd even go over to her house for help. She made math fun for me," she said.

Kojima was selected from seven District Teachers of the Year, each of whom won a year's free use of a new car provided by members of the Hawaii Auto Dealers Association.

The Polynesian Cultural Center, longtime sponsor of the award, also gave each winning teacher $500, with an extra $1,000 for Kojima. SMARTer Kids Foundation donated instructional software and other prizes.

Friends and colleagues say that Kojima invariably shuns praise. Yesterday was no different, as she gave the credit to her colleagues, supportive family and especially her students.

"It's the motivation in their hearts that keep me going," she said.