Contact: Greg Knudsen
Date: September 1, 2005


Sheri Kojima of Waiakea High is State Teacher of the Year


Sheri Kojima, business education teacher at Waiakea High, was named Hawaii's 2006 State Teacher of the Year during the Board of Education meeting at Radford High on September 1.

The Hawaii District Teacher of the Year began teaching business education in 1990 at Hilo High, followed by two years at Laupahoehoe High, and another three at Hilo High before settling in at Waiakea High in 1996.

Kojima has served for more than 11 years as advisor to her schools' DECA clubs, and is active in church and community activities. In 2002, the Hawaii Business Education Association recognized her as "Secondary Educator of the Year."

"We are not teaching if students are not learning," Kojima says, adding: "The key to success in today's workforce is to make yourself marketable. I teach students to look within themselves and search for these talents, strengths, skills, and abilities. I teach them to view themselves as unique and special. Once this personal aspect is achieved, students feel confident learning new skills."

Kojima holds a master's degree in occupational studies from California State University, Long Beach, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (with coursework at UH-Hilo and Hawaii and Kapiolani Community Colleges).

The other six District TOYs were also honored at the meeting:

Colleen Uejo - Honolulu District, Linapuni Elementary. Uejo is a special education preschool teacher. She also taught special education at Kaimuki Middle and worked at various private schools. She began teaching in 1971. Uejo describes why she chose teaching: "It's not for the money, and it's not for the glory. It's simply my love for children and wanting to teach them the skills that they need to get them through life."

Joanne Fujita-Oshiro - Central District, Helemano Elementary. Fujita-Oshiro, a 1st grade teacher, began teaching in 1990. She has also taught in kindergarten, Grade 3, and special education, and served as a resource teacher. When she was in kindergarten herself, she was asked what she would be when she grew up. Recalling her response, she says: "I wanted to be a teacher. Little did I know back then that this would lead me to such a rewarding and fulfilling career."

Stacey Makanoe Kawasaki - Leeward District, Waiau Elementary. Kawasaki is a 1st grade Hawaiian immersion teacher and earlier taught grades K and 6. She also lectures for the University of Hawaii Outreach College. She began substitute teaching in 1994. Kawasaki also mentors inservice teachers, and says: "When the university students who work with me gain an understanding of teaching excellence, then I have not only affected their lives but the lives of their students as well."

Evelyn Oshima - Windward District, Puohala Elementary. Oshima, a 2nd grade teacher, has been at Puohala since 1988. She has taught grades K-3 at six public schools since 1971, including 11 years at Laie Elementary. After more than 33 years of teaching, Oshima says: "I choose to continue to teach because I still possess the joy of teaching and the personal desire to see my students grow intellectually and socially."

Linda Yonemura - Maui District, Molokai High. Linda has taught business education in grades 9-12 at Molokai High her entire career. Joining the DOE in 1975, she now has more than 30 years of teaching experience. Yonemura says: "I praise students when they have done well in class and also when they have achieved outside of class.... Praise goes a long way in boosting a child’s confidence and motivation to perform better."

Ryne Terao - Kauai District, Kapaa Middle. Terao teaches career and technical education in grades 7-8, and has served as a district resource teacher. Earlier, he taught automotive technology in grades 9-12, adult education, community college, and in the Army. He began teaching in 1984. Terao says: "The 'test and tune' method in auto racing is something that I use to my advantage, as I must constantly test my students' knowledge and then refine my teaching method based on those results."

Sponsors Support Hawaii's TOY Program

The DOE expresses appreciation to the generous sponsors of Hawaii’s District and State Teachers of the Year Program. Those sponsors and their contributions are:

-- Polynesian Cultural Center, the state program corporate sponsor for 20 years - $500 to each District TOY and an additional $1,000 to the State TOY;

-- Hawaii Automobile Dealers’ Association - free one-year lease of a new car for each District TOY; and,

-- SMARTer Kids Foundation - instructional software for each District TOY and a SMART Board and other advanced classroom technology worth several thousand dollars for the State TOY and her school.


Attachments: Photos of each TOY

State TOY/Hawaii DTOY Sheri Kojima
Sheri-8.5x11.jpg - Sheri-8.5x11.jpg

Honolulu DTOY Colleen Uejo
Colleen-8.5x11.jpg - Colleen-8.5x11.jpg

Central DTOY Joanne Fujita-Oshiro
Joanne-8.5x11.jpg - Joanne-8.5x11.jpg

Leeward DTOY Stacey Kawasaki
Stacey-8.5x11.jpg - Stacey-8.5x11.jpg

Windward DTOY Evelyn Oshima
Evelyn-8.5x11.jpg - Evelyn-8.5x11.jpg

Maui DTOY Linda Yonemura
Linda-8.5x11.jpg - Linda-8.5x11.jpg

Kauai DTOY Ryne Terao
Ryne-8.5x11.jpg - Ryne-8.5x11.jpg

-- DOE --