"For me, life is about nurturing all those around us - protecting them and advancing their growth and development."

Hometown

Kihei, HI.

Department

Special Education

Related Degrees

• Master of Education in Teaching (MEdT)

Why did you choose to become a teacher, in general?

Several of the teachers I had in my early education were inspiring. More than that, actually… Two of my high school English teachers became mentors and friends (35 years +). I had dreams of teaching earlier in life, but they were put on hold while I served in the U.S. Navy. After a successful career in the Navy, I decided my days of service weren’t over. So, I dusted off the old dream and became an educator. For me, life is about nurturing all those around us – protecting them and advancing their growth and development. There’s no better place to do that than in the classroom.

Why did you choose to become licensed in special education?

My younger brother is autistic. However, his diagnosis did not occur until later in life. Though we all knew (or thought we knew) that there was something unique about Ryan, everyone just moved along as if nothing needed to be addressed. This included his teachers. He struggled in school and was not able to graduate with his peers. He masked his symptoms and did his best to fit in socially, but ultimately, he suffered from the anxiety of it all and was depressed and full of self-doubt. This is something that remains with him to this day. When it came time for me to enter the world of education, I knew it had to be in such a way that I could ensure people like Ryan were never overlooked or just pushed along with the pack. Special Education, at its heart, is individualized and inclusive instruction. If Ryan had received that decades ago, his life may have turned out dramatically better. That’s why I’m here.