The UH Mānoa College of Education (COE) has partnered with Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation (HPF) to provide $126,000 in scholarships for Maui County teachers to pursue graduate programs at the COE. Funding was awarded based on a project proposal, titled Retaining and Supporting High-Quality Native Hawaiian Educators, submitted by COE Recruitment Specialist Janet Kim and Associate Director of Development Alice Holt Taum.
A top priority for the COE, supporting neighbor island teachers is an essential part of the college’s efforts to recruit and retain well-prepared, quality educators.
“We recognize that funding opportunities for established teachers to pursue professional development and leadership are limited compared to the financial incentives for individuals pursuing their initial license to become teachers,” Murata said. “We are grateful for this partnership with the Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation that will enable us to build a new pipeline of support for our neighbor island teachers.”
The COE aims to support current Native Hawaiian licensed teachers within Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi) to pursue graduate studies and leadership opportunities. According to Fall 2023 COE data, there were 390 Native Hawaiian and Part-Hawaiian students enrolled in the college.
“When pursuing a graduate program of study, educators not only gain new knowledge and competencies to support their classrooms, but they also join a professional learning community that often helps reignite the passion and desire to commit to the teaching profession,” Kim said. “These efforts promote retention in the classroom and provide educators with career advancement, higher compensation, and potential increased job satisfaction.”
The Retaining and Supporting High-Quality Native Hawaiian Educators project will support five graduate students, including a PhD candidate in education, two master’s candidates in one of 11 programs of their choice, as well as two scholars in any of eight online/hybrid COE Certificate Programs of their choice. With this funding from HPF, these students will be given the opportunity to continue their education, many while working and teaching full-time.
For more information or to apply: https://coe.hawaii.edu/hpffunding/
