So Many Memories

 Our Mom passed away peacefully at her home on May 14, 2024. She was 96 years old at the time, and my siblings and I have been navigating the cleaning up of her home while we ponder our next steps. We knew this day would come eventually, and it’s not been easy.

Mom was a private person. As I shared in this blog from October 2015, Mom was special; she helped to shape my siblings and me into the people we are today. When Mom and Dad became grandparents, their home became the place-to-be on special holidays, for celebrations,  or for “corn parties” when Dad’s crop was ready to be harvested. These get-togethers were filled with stories and laughter and catching-up. We saw the grandchildren - our kids - grow up together as lifelong friends as well as cousins. Then these kids grew up and had kids of their own. Our family home that Mom and Dad bought back in 1969 was filled with even more laughter. 

Dad passed away in 2013 (Aloha, Dad). Since then, Mom lived alone in that 5-bedroom home. As she grew older, my siblings and I took turns spending time with her; we needed to watch her more carefully as she became less independent. And now, as we go through her drawers and closets, we’re getting an even greater insight about what made our Mom tick.

Mom loved her family, and as I cleaned out her desk drawers, I came across so many greeting cards and thank-you cards.  I hope Mom occasionally took them out to re-read because they were filled with sweet thoughts of appreciation and love. Mom and Dad also read the newspaper from front to back every day, I was surprised that she had cut out and saved articles written about or by her children and grandchildren and kept them in binders or file folders. As my siblings and I go over to clean and purge, we sometimes get caught up, looking through Mom’s photo albums or going through her scrapbooks. 

I know that especially in the later years, it was difficult to think of what to get Mom for her birthday, Mothers’ Day, or Christmas. As we clean, we are finding unused gift cards, brand-new items that were unwrapped but never used, clothes with the price tags still intact, and other well-meaning gifts that Mom never had the opportunity to use or enjoy. We are donating many of these items to charity, and we hope they will be enjoyed by those who receive them. 

We are encouraging our children (Mom’s grandchildren) to go through Mom’s items and to take things that they want or that remind them of her.  Three items I took from Mom’s home are a bracelet that the ladies at Wahiawa General Hospital made for newborns; our last name is misspelled, but I love that Mom kept all five of our bracelets. I also took my baby book; Mom had taped a penny from the year I was born on the first page and recorded my milestones including my first photograph. And I took my Dad’s bento-pail, his lunchbox, the one he took to work in the pineapple fields when they first got married. It was tucked way in the back of the kitchen cabinet What a find!

Mom and Dad bought their home when I was a senior in high school so I didn’t spend too many years there before getting married and starting our own family in our own home. Now that Mom and Dad have both passed, I know another family will move in and make their own memories in that special place. It would be impossible for me to share everything about what Mom and Dad’s home has meant to our extended family, and time has a way of moving on whether we like it or not. But I am grateful for all of the wonderful memories of Mom and Dad’s home, and I am hopeful that the next family will feel the love that we all shared in that special place. 

The bracelet that the volunteers made for newborns at Wahiawa General Hospital. The name is misspelled - it should be AMEMIYA - but it is nevertheless, a very special keepsake.

I knew Mom had a book for each of us, so when I became a Mom, I kept one for each of our sons. 

Dad’s bento (lunch) pail that he took to work when he worked as a laborer in the pineapple fields. 

It is still in great condition! 

A Blog Post from 8 Years Ago is Still Applicable Today

As we navigate through all of the information and disinformation in this political year, I thought I’d re-post a blog I wrote back in 2016. My feelings haven’t changed in the nearly 8 years since I wrote this blog so I thought I’d repost it.

Why is it Taking So Long?

When I was in school, I never had a female administrator. My principals and vice principals from elementary school through high school were all male. They wore short-sleeved white shirts, dark pants, and dark ties and hardly ever smiled.  They were feared, and the threat of being sent to the principal's office kept everyone in-check. The rumor was that there was a paddle in the office; we never knew if it was true. We just knew that we didn't want to be the one to find out.

As a kindergarten student, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher, and throughout the rest of my school years, that was my goal. I loved teaching and when I became a mother, I had to find that balance between work and family. Honestly, becoming a mom made me a better teacher and a better time manager. I had to prioritize, and family came first..

I got into educational administration only after my own sons were older; two were in college and my youngest was in middle school. While they were in their formative years, I was the chauffeur, the coach, the one who went to meetings and performances. My husband came when he could, but his job often didn't allow him to attend. I didn't mind, and now when I look back, I have so many wonderful memories. I think that's how it is with many moms.

Times have changed for girls/women since I was growing up:

• Traditional families back when I was little were like the Cleavers or the Nelsons. Mom stayed home and took care of the house and the kids. Dad went to work and was the primary breadwinner. Today, Moms often have to work to supplement the family income or because they are single parents. 
• Title IX gives girls an equal opportunity to compete in sports. This has made a huge impact on our girls who now can receive full college scholarships for playing on an athletic team.
• Girls are encouraged to go to college and enter fields that were previously male-dominated although they are still underrepresented in fields like engineering and mathematics.
• Women can now do combat duty as members of the military.
• Since the first woman was elected to Congress in 1916 - exactly 100 years ago - 313 women have been elected.  In Hawaii, 3 out of our 4 Congressional delegation are women (wow!) and presently, about 20% of the members of Congress are women. We've made advances in this area, but the number is still far from proportional.

Yet despite the advances women have made in society, we are still unable to break the glass ceiling in the United States. Other countries have elected women leaders - Indira Gandhi was elected as Prime Minister of India 50 years ago; Israel's Golda Meir was elected in 1969; and Margaret Thatcher served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom beginning in 1979. Why is it taking so long for those of us in the United States to elect a woman President?

From my perspective, women, despite their advances, must work extra hard to gain the respect from men and other women. If we cry, we are considered weak. If we don't show emotion, we are "cold." If we choose to get input before making a decision, people criticize us for being indecisive. If we swear, that is unladylike, and sometimes, a woman's opinions is drowned out simply because she is outnumbered. And her appearance? The public can be so critical and cruel.

I am quite certain that the first female principals had to prove themselves. They probably had to be extra tough to show that they could do the job. As time passed and more women were appointed to educational leadership positions, the principalship became less about being tough and more about being collaborative and working with school communities to ensure that children were learning in a safe, nurturing environment. Today, we probably have an equal number of male and female principals, and I am grateful for those first women principals for paving the way for others like me. 

One day soon, I hope our country will elect a woman President. When she proves that she can lead the country - her way - she will pave the way for others to follow and serve as a role model for girls and young women.

I hope to see that happen in my lifetime.

Feeling Optimistic

 It’s been a month since my last blog post. It’s not that I haven’t tried. I started several posts but deleted them. I couldn’t get past the first paragraph. I am determined to get this one done.

It’s been six years since I’ve retired. I wrote this blog, “So What’s Next?” on my last day of work back in 2018. Since then, much has happened in our world and in my life, and I continued to blog about my hopes, my thoughts, and my experiences. I still have strong ideas about our educational systems, but recently, I’ve been wondering if maybe I am too far-removed to share my opinions publicly. I had doubts.

But this past week, I had the opportunity to speak with several young teachers. We were sign-holding for a candidate in a local race, a candidate who received the endorsement of the teachers’ union. I started by asking questions to get to know them better  - where they teach, how long they’ve been teaching, how they navigate the challenges post-pandemic, and similar questions. 

As our conversation continued, I found myself feeling energized and excited. These teachers were looking forward to the new school year. They shared that they prioritized relationship-building with their students and colleagues. They also believed in  providing students with opportunities to maximize their strengths while providing intervention strategies when needed. They were open to trying ideas like team-teaching or project-based learning or learning centers. They shared positive opinions about their administrators whom they felt supported them and  helped them to grow as teachers and as people.

Three of the teachers I spoke with are in their second careers; they went back to college to get their education degree and definitely do not regret their decision. Two were working in schools while concurrently taking classes. It is evident that they love what they are doing and feel they are making a positive difference in their students’ lives. 

A few years ago, I wrote this blog post - “Should Our Best and Brightest Become Teachers?”  I think this is more applicable than ever today. We need an informed citizenry to tackle the problems in our community, in our state, in our country, and in the world. The teachers I spoke with recently are committed to educating our young people to be passionate, motivated, inspired learners who can make a difference. They are the kind of teachers we need for our students today. 

I am feeling optimistic!

An Inspirational Teacher

Back in April 2022, I wrote a blog post titled, “Bold and Visionary Leadership” after sitting in on a virtual session of “Investing in Human Capital.” One of those leaders I highlighted was Candy Suiso; this is what I shared.

Those of us in education know about Candy Suiso, a remarkable educator who started a creative media program at a high school in one of the poorest communities in our state and turned it into a thriving production company where students are creating amazing videos and other media projects. Former students are returning to the school to teach the next generation of creative media students. (Watch Candy's TED-X talk here.)  

Today, my husband and I joined other invited guests, former and present students, community and educational leaders in our State, and proud faculty members and parents to celebrate the 30th Anniversary Reunion and Celebration of Searider Productions. Candy has retired as a teacher but is now the Executive Director of Searider Productions Foundation. In her new role, she has increased the number of real-world commercial and professional projects and opportunities for students. 

We were able to talk with and question students about their projects, and I was impressed with their poise, their confidence, and the quality of the work they produced. Since its inception in 1993, the program has graduated 7,000 students pursuing a Career and Technology Education certification in the study of Arts and Communication. Many have graduated with an Associates Degree in addition to their high school diploma, and a number have returned to their community and their alma mater to work with the next generation of students. Check out their website for more information on the many possibilities for students to learn skills and to contribute to their school or community.

Candy shared that when she first proposed her idea, people were doubtful that she could/would be successful because of the many societal challenges of the Waianae community. But Candy persisted, and her students thrived when given the opportunity to learn through video production. And with funds generated through their commercial and professional products and projects, students are able to travel to gain new experiences, opportunities they may not have had if they were not part of Searider Productions. 

A teacher can make a difference. Candy Suiso graduated from Waianae High School, left to attend college, then returned to teach at her alma mater. One teacher’s dream blossomed into an award-winning program which brings hope and pride to the students, their families, and the community.  

Congratulations to Searider Productions on your 30th Anniversary!

My husband Randy and me with Candy Suiso

Some of the many, many local and national awards won by the students at Searider Productions

Can Our Students and Schools Be Advocates for Change?

 Back in 1993, I was hired to teach first grade at a new “high-tech” elementary school. I remember the trainings we received from Dr. David Perkins of Harvard’s Project Zero and feeling overwhelmed with the information. Then it all came together as our grade level teachers collaborated and created a unit based on the school’s theme of “change.” We titled our unit, “People Bring Change to the Environment.”

Our science resource teacher helped us to make sense of the grade level science standards and suggested that we address the issue of renewable and non-renewable resources.  I recall spending time together as a grade level, learning, discussing, planning, implementing, and reflecting afterwards. It wasn’t easy, but we were making learning rigorous and relevant for our first graders, and we learned about this important issue alongside our students. We started with brainstorming questions and documenting our learning, adding more questions and learnings in the process. We compared data about the amount of trash we were generating as a family, a classroom, a school, and society. We learned about the length of time it takes for different materials to decompose, about the 3 R’s and why it’s important to reduce, reuse, recycle, and so much more as we continued to delve deeper based on student questions. 

As a culminating activity, our students decided to take a walking trip in our community to pick up trash; we didn’t really know what the outcome would be, but the students were excited and determined to make a difference. Each classroom took a different route, and our area included the City Park-and-Ride lot; there was more trash than usual at that location. Some of our students observed that perhaps this was because there were no trash cans there. When we got back to school, we sorted and graphed the trash and the students made observations based on what they had learned. 

But they were most concerned that there were no trash cans at the Park-and-Ride. They wanted to do something about it and brainstormed ideas. Through their research, they found out that the head of the City was the Mayor, and they decided to write letters to him. They knew that the Mayor was  busy, so he might not reply, but they were undeterred.  They wrote in their best handwriting and shared their observation about the trash at the Park-and-Ride and the lack of trash cans. They drew pictures, added some information they learned about trash, and reminded the Mayor that their parents had voted for him. 😊

One morning a few weeks later, a student excitedly announced that they had gone past the Park-and-Ride, and there were trash cans! Our students had made a difference! I was so grateful to the City for listening to our students. I was hopeful that as these students continued in their life, they will remember that they have the capacity to make a difference, no matter how small it may seem to someone else.

This is a memory from 30 years ago, but it is still one of my favorites from my time as a teacher. Every one of my first graders was engaged in this unit of study, and parents shared that it made a difference in their shopping habits as well. I am hopeful that through this unit, students realized that every person can make a difference. Imagine if they had these kinds of experiences throughout their educational journey! School could change from being a place where teachers tell students what they need to learn (so they can do well on a test) to encouraging students’ questions and interests to create the kinds of experiences where students can drive their own learning. 

The students in that first grade classroom are now in their mid-thirties. They may even be parents now. I hope that when they recall their educational journey, they will remember that special time when they made a difference for their community. 

Note: Check out the What School Could Be virtual community to connect with educators who are committed to re-imagining learning for our students. 

Memories from the Past

Back in 2019, I self-published my first book, “Leading with Aloha: From the Pineapple Fields to the Principal’s Office.” (blog “I Did It!😊”) At the time, I encouraged my husband Randy to write his memoir; he has had a much more “colorful” life than me, and his varied professional experiences would surely be an interesting read. I even offered to help him write it, but he still refused. 

Yesterday, Randy posted a memory on Facebook, and that story has triggered forgotten-memories and led to positive comments from his friends. This is the kind of interaction that I enjoy about social media where a photo or post brings a smile to our faces. Randy’s post did that. 

I asked Randy if I could share his post in a blog, and, surprise! He agreed. So here is Randy’s memory. In case  you are wondering, Randy was hospitalized and diagnosed with a heart condition which made him extremely exhausted after walking short distances. Fortunately, he is fine now although he is allergic to penicillin after taking it daily for too long. And the radio no longer works, but it is a keepsake which brings back fond memories for Randy. 

Randy’s Facebook Post, May 31, 2024

Around 1959 (I was in the 7th grade) I had to go into the hospital for several days.  My mom and dad bought me this Zenith transistor radio to keep me company.  I was out of school for several months, and returned for half days only.  This radio was my companion and friend!

Whenever I see this radio today, memories of moments in time come flashing back.  K-POI radio with djs like Ron Jacobs, Tom Moffat, Tom Rounds, the Bearded Bob Lowrie, "Little" Stevie Nicolet, Don Robbs, Dave the Moose Donnelly.  ILH football.  Fabian (the singer???) landing in Hawaii and being helicoptered to KPOI (tried to look for it from my hospital bed  with no success).  The early flights of the Mecury space capsule e.g. Alan Shepard, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, John Glenn -- getting up on school days at 2 a.m. to listen to the launches.  Hearing the news flash that President Kennedy had died.  Listening to K-POI in the late evening while standing on Date Street to view the nuclear explosion over Johnston Island that turned night into day in Honolulu, and knock the K-POI transmission off the air.  Eagerly waiting for K-POI to play Rene Paulo's "Here is Happiness" and calling in often to request it. (my dad was a drummer in Rene's group).

During my stay in the hospital, I was completely bedridden.  So my Zenith and K-POI provided me my only escape day and night.  Songs from that time always take me back to my intermediate school years : e.g. "First Name Initial" by Annette, 'Put Your Head on My Shoulders" by Paul Anka, "West Texas Town of El Paso" by Marty Robbins, "Hush a Bye"; by the Mystics, "Misty" by Johnny Mathis, "Venus" by Frankie Avalon. The list is as long as K-POI's playlist!

These are but a few of the memories I had with my Zenith companion and at my age, there are many wonderful and sad memories that came through my Zenith.

“I Touch the Future. I Teach.”

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with students at the University of Hawai`i. I started off with this quote by Christa McAuliffe: "I touch the future. I teach." These words have been my "why?' the reason I stayed in education for 45 years - to positively impact my students for their futures. None of the university students knew who Christa was so I shared that she was selected from over 11,000 applicants from around our nation to be the first "Teacher in Space" back in 1985. All of us who were teachers at that time were excited that one of our own would be on the Challenger space shuttle, sharing lessons from space. But 1 minute 13 seconds after blastoff, the Challenger exploded. Christa and the rest of the crew did not survive, but her words live on and are just as meaningful today as they were when she spoke them nearly 40 years ago. 

These students are taking a College of Education course, but they are unsure about whether they want to  teach. They had read my book, Leading with Aloha: From the Pineapple Fields to the Principal’s Office, and Professor Scott Robinson asked them to write questions they had for me on a Jamboard..

I was pleased to see two questions about teaching. How can future teachers become better prepared? and What advice would you give someone who is going into teaching with little experience leading an elementary classroom? In our conversation with students in the class, it was evident that they were considering going into teaching, but they also had other interests. Could I convince them to give teaching a try? 

I shared this Instagram post from a former Teach for America teacher at our school. (Read the blog here.) Unlike many other TFA teachers, Kat stayed for five years, and in that time, we learned as much from her as she learned from us. She moved on and as she shares, her teaching experience was invaluable in preparing her for her new career as an entrepreneur and business owner. 

There are many Kat's out there who started teaching and then pivoted to other careers. Recently, our College of Education Alumni Association honored Glenn Furuya as our 2024 Distinguished Alumnus. Glenn received his BEd and MEd from the University of Hawai`i and taught special education in Hilo. While teaching, he discovered a passion for developing leaders which led to the founding of Leadership Works. In that role, Glenn has impacted thousands of people, not just in Hawai`i, but in other countries as well. And he, like Kat and so many others, started as a teacher. 

I told these University of Hawai`i students that they would grow and gain invaluable skills if they chose to spend a few years teaching. In today's world, there are so many options for them, but teaching for a few years could give them the confidence and the leadership skills to venture into another professional opportunity if they choose to do so. 

I believe very strongly in developing teachers to be the best they can be for their students. We want teachers to be creative, to use their own strengths and interests to engage their students, to try new ideas in their classrooms, and to work together as a team to learn with and from each other. I believe that students should be active learners, to discover their strengths and their interests, to learn and to work with others as part of a team, and to create their own learning opportunities with guidance from a caring adult. 

Recently, the Hawai`i Department of Education shared this article about two of their youngest-ever teachers. I was excited when I read it because last year, Skye was one of the student teachers I supervised at the University of Hawai`i West O`ahu. (I had no idea back then that she was only 19 years old.) When I texted Skye after reading the article, she shared that it's been challenging but that it's a learning process and she loves her students. And I’m sure her students love her, too.

We need our young people to become teachers. Too often, we discourage them by telling them all the negatives - not enough pay, disengaged students, difficult parents, etc. - but there are so many positives, too many to share. These young people can be the best role models and coaches for our students; let's support and encourage them. Don't our kids deserve that? 

And if you or your child is considering going into teaching, remember Christa McAuliffe's words: I touch the future. I teach.