On Saturday, January 6, 2018, the University of Hawai‛i at Mānoa College of Education (COE) hosted an orientation for 56 newly admitted secondary education students, 32 of whom were part of the college’s Grow Our Own teachers initiative. Scholarship stipends for the initiative were made available with generous support from the State Legislature and the Hawai‛i Department of Education (HIDOE). Designed to address teacher shortage areas in Hawaiian Language, world languages, English, mathematics, and science, the program targets HIDOE employees who are already teaching and who serve as emergency hires, substitute teachers, or educational assistants.
With leadership from Senator Michele Kidani, this unique partnership between the COE and HIDOE is providing working educators with an opportunity to obtain a teaching license.During the event, students were greeted by Senator Kidani, Dean Nathan Murata, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Amelia Jenkins, STE Secondary Education Director Tara O’Neill, and Office of Student Academic Services Director Denise Nakaoka as well as other key COE faculty and staff members.
Grow Our Own candidates began the college’s online Statewide Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education (PBCSE) program on January 8, 2018. They are expected to graduate in May 2019 when they are eligible to apply for teacher licensure from the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB).
