Sometimes, the voice of an educator can resonates with you and you realize it's time to explore a career where you can make a difference, a career in education. Here are three interviews we completed with students, graduates, and faculty that we think will give you a sense of the types of careers available in education, and the type of people who pursue them:
Meet Shikara Shahrin, ITE Elementary Graduate
"The struggle of an educator is global, and as long as there is a conversation taking place among teachers, we will be okay.”
- Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department: ITE Elementary
- Degree: BEd Elementary Education
Current Position
I have been a 1st–3rd grade music teacher, a 3rd grade English teacher, and am currently a K–5 substitute teacher at the International School of Kuala Lumpur.
How did you become interested in the field of education?
I come from three generations of educators. It's in my blood!
How is the college's Supporting Our New Graduates (SONG) program helping you along the way?
Despite time zone challenges, I have been able to Skype with Ronnie Tiffany-Kinder, a SONG mentor teacher. We have spent hours discussing all aspects of teacher life – cultural, political, economical, emotional, and instructional. Together, we figured out how I can rise above the circumstances of a first-year teacher. We revisited strategies I learned at the COE and talked about how to apply them in my new school with my Malaysian students. We also discussed how to balance non-teacher life, and I hung up feeling relieved and supported.
SONG is a great initiative and a much needed avenue for teachers to seek help. The struggle of an educator is not just confined to one particular geographical location. The struggle of an educator is global, and as long as there is a conversation taking place among teachers, we will be okay.
What are your future plans?
After I gain more experience teaching, I would like to go to graduate school and continue to make a difference in children's lives.
Interested in a teacher licensure program?
Meet Kazufumi Taira, Educational Psychology PhD Student
“I have had opportunities to learn about culture-based education and indigenous pedagogy at the college, which has stimulated me to think about an education program for Okinawans.”
- Hometown: Kadena, Okinawa, Japan
- Department: EDEP
- Degree: Educational Psychology PhD Candidate
What is your current position? I am an office manager for the Graduate Student Organization (GSO).
How did you become interested in the field of educational psychology?
After I came to Hawaiʻi and spent several years in my exchange and master’s degree programs, I realized that my Okinawan identity became more salient within me than before. This phenomenon happened not only to me, but also to other Okinawan international students. I wanted to examine factors that influence Okinawan international students’ identity through learning and activities in Hawaiʻi. This academic interest fit in the field of educational psychology, so I decided to do my research here.
Why did you select the UHM COE?
The COE provides excellent courses and environments to learn about education in general as well as education related to Hawaiʻi. I have had opportunities to learn about culture-based education and indigenous pedagogy at the college, which has stimulated me to think about an education program for Okinawans.
How has the EDEP program helped you along the way?
EDEP provides courses and an environment through which I can enhance my research and pursue my academic interests. I took Identity and Learning as well as Psychology and Culture courses to learn about identity development and psychological colonialism, which was beneficial to conceptually improve my research. Also, the program offers qualitative and quantitative methods courses that are essential for me to conduct my research in a scholastic way. Furthermore, the faculty members are really supportive and create an intellectual atmosphere where I can enhance my research with their assistance.
What are your future plans?
My future plans are to continue my research on identity development and saliency among Okinawans as well as to establish an educational program for Okinawans. I strongly believed that what I have learned from the EDEP program and UHM COE will be helpful for me to achieve these future plans.
Interested in a degree in Educational Psychology?
Meet Paul McKimmy, Technology and Distance Programs Director
This interview was completed after Dr. McKimmy won the Excellence in Online Teaching award. Dr. McKimmy has a rare perspective; he is both an administrator in the field of education, and an instructor to students in Learning Design and Technology programs.
“This was the inaugural award for Excellence in Online Teaching, and my course was nominated by students from the class, so it's enormously gratifying to receive this honor.”
- Hometown: Elk Rapids, Michigan
- Department: Learning Design and Technology
- Degree: EdD, Educational Leadership
Current Position
I have been with the College of Education since 2002, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses; overseeing the college’s Technology and Distance Programs (TDP) office, which includes our Distance Course Design & Consulting (DCDC) group; working with faculty to develop online and hybrid programs; and supporting instructional and administrative technology. Prior to coming to the college, I worked at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as Director of Workforce Development.
What role do you see technology playing in education in the future?
Technology will continue to influence and expand affordances in teaching and learning. New technologies inspire new approaches and hopefully enable new efficiencies. Technology, however, will never be a panacea or obviate the need for intentional, quality instructional design and teaching.
Briefly describe your road to education (as a student and/or a teacher).
I started my education career in student services with the intention of becoming a Dean of Students. At some point, I realized that I had become the go-to guy for all things computer-related no matter what office I worked in. I got involved in providing professional development for faculty in video conferencing classrooms and realized that I wanted to move into technology full time. My position as Director of Technology and Distance Programs allows me to work with instructors, technologists, students, and staff. I enjoy facilitating technological progress in improving our instructional and support systems.
What is your philosophy of teaching?
I believe we learn best by doing. I incorporate review, discussion, and hands-on experiences into my courses, including real world projects when possible. Several years ago, I taught Management of Instructional Technology, and the students designed "smart classrooms" in conjunction with teachers from American Sāmoa. After the semester, I was able to take the entire class to Pago Pago for a week to implement their designs and train the collaborating teachers.
Awards:
COE Congress Thinking Outside the Box Award (2002)
COE Congress Leadership Award (2005)
COE Congress Transformation Award (2012)
UHM Online Teaching Award (2015)
What does the Excellence in Online Teaching Award mean to you?
This was the inaugural award for Excellence in Online Teaching, and my course was nominated by students from the class, so it's enormously gratifying to receive this honor. The award was specifically for design, so this is also an honor for DCDC who worked with me to build the course. Adam Tanners, Chloe O'Neill (Kubo), Michelle Carino, Hong Ngo, and Stacey Brook
comprised the DCDC team.
What are your future plans?
As UH distance education efforts mature, I hope to be influential in improving quality, effectiveness, and breadth of offerings. Our DCDC group is already having an impact by assisting other UH units in realizing their distance education goals.
You can explore programs in the Learning Design and Technology department where Dr. McKimmy teaches, or you can learn more about the College of Education's EdD program (the degree that Dr. McKimmy holds):
