PCF— Education Day, part 3

The last leg of our trip had us busing out to Nanakuli High and Intermediate to hear from their principal, Darren Pilialoha. There we learned that the school has 990 kids who the papers do not do justice to in their descriptions of what these have done and what they can do.

Mr. Pilialoha presented Nanakuli's New Tech Initiative/Network (funded by Kamehameha Schools for training). Their core beliefs:
• All students can learn.
• With support systems, all students can succeed.
• We have a moral purpose in educating the whole child.

He then asked, "Are we educating a bunch of test-takers or people?" Critical skills:
— communication
— collaboration
— critical thinking
— people skills
— creativity
— innovation

Vision:
— college and career ready
— educational environment includes 21st century skills, 1-to-1 laptop program for 9th graders
— learning and innovation
— life and career
— media and technology
— personalized

in the program they are rolling out for 9th graders, students will comprise a culture of caring, respect and responsibility through which they will engage in project-based learning that is relevant and current. They will utilize technology and follow a business model:
— send a memo (history of need, rubric)
— know and need to know (research)
— roles and responsibilities (w/penalties for not following through)
— presentation to a panel

The day concluded with a presentation by Leigh Kincaid of Teach for America. Ms. Kincaid indicated how 4th grade is clear indicator of how far behind these kids are falling. Of 100 Kindergartners in Hawaii public schools, 65 will graduate, 34 of those will go to college, 24 of those will graduate in four years. The proof points are that kids in lower income communities have a greater challenge, but they can learn and they can achieve.

Teach for America seeks to close the achievement gap by aggressively recruiting from top colleges and universities. This pipeline for talent looks for achievement and leadership. Only 10% are initially interested in education but 65% stay in education after their two year initial commitment.

This day was supposed to end with a tour of the After School All-Stars program run by Dawn Dunbar (PCF '07) but we ran out of time. Fortunately we got to see the program after our Health Care Day the next month. Dawn left a lucrative career in the banking and business world to heroically lead this very worthy and significant program.