Ryan Mandado, who earned his Doctorate in Education in Professional Educational Practice (EdD), has been selected for a fellowship with the Pahara Institute. He is one of just 24 public school leaders nationally and the only one from Hawaiʻi to be designated a 2024 Pahara Fellow.
The aim of the cohort-based program is to build a community of leaders who are transforming public education, especially those serving low-income children and communities. Fellows are given the opportunity to reflect on their impact as agents of change and to challenge each other to develop strategies to improve high-quality learning opportunities for every child.
Beginning his teaching journey as a special education teacher and department head at Campbell High School, Mandado is co-founder and Chief Academic Officer of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Charter School.
“I admire the Pahara organization’s commitment to bridging educational leaders together to discuss transforming public education,” Mandado said. “I think I was selected for the progressive work I am doing as a school leader and my commitment to elevating student and youth voice in schools. Not only am I representing DreamHouse, I think I am playing a role in furthering the discussion on what schools can be for Hawai‘i and the broader United States.”
Mandado was selected after a yearlong application process that included a series of interviews with Pahara Fellowship alumni. In order to bring together as inclusive a group as possible, consideration for selection includes: socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religious affiliation, and political ideology as well as various organization models, multiple sectors in education, different geographic regions, and various leadership roles.
During the one-year fellowship, Mandado will travel to the Lone Rock Retreat in Bailey, Colorado.
