“In the early years of a child’s life, they are making millions of neural connections which are critical for learning and opening the gateway to be successful later in life.”

Hometown

Kāne‘ohe, HI

Department

Curriculum Studies

Related Degrees

• MEd, Early Childhood Education

Where do you work?
I have the privilege of working as a teacher in the public Pre–K class at Keolu Elementary school.

How did you become interested in the field of early education?
I have always enjoyed teaching and working with children. By providing each and every child a welcoming atmosphere and the feeling of belonging, it brings me joy when I see them grow and thrive.

Why do you think early childhood education is so important?
In the early years of a child’s life, they are making millions of neural connections which are critical for learning and opening the gateway to be successful later in life.

How has the COE program impacted or benefited your career path?
The COE has benefited me in many ways, particularly by broadening my outlook on teaching and grounding me in how young children learn. I am improving how I develop my curriculum based on my children’s interests, which not only focuses on academic skills, but includes them to use their own thinking, analyzing, and collaboration skills which are imperative traits as they grow. I am constantly learning and feel the quality of my overall teaching practices has grown.

Is there anyone in particular who inspired you to pursue education as a career?
Growing up, I saw how hard my mom worked as a teacher. She had a passion for educating the young and loved what she did.

What are your future visions and goals?
If we recognize project work helps build children’s inquiry, wondering and questioning skills, how do we continue this work as children move through their schooling? I’d like to have conversations with my colleagues to see what their thoughts are about this. Thus, trying to embed common understandings and practices with our early childhood educators.

Anything else you would like to include?
The field of early childhood education is heading in the right direction as there are some bills in place that, if passed, would help applicants entering the field with substantial financial assistance. This is a golden opportunity to build the field of early educators so we can expand public Pre–K for more children across the island. Each and every young child deserves an early education!