Karen Kutsunai blinked her eyes and shook her head in disbelief when her name was announced Friday as the 2013 State Teacher of the Year.
"I’m talking a bit trepidatiously because I distinctly remember writing in my application for the honor that I’m the person that does not seek the limelight," the Kailua Intermediate School teacher said to the audience gathered at Washington Place to honor her and the six other District Teacher of the Year winners.
Kutsunai quickly turned the attention to her colleagues.
"You’ve done your part to help your school communities and the areas where you teach," she said, poking her fingers under her glasses to wipe tears from her eyes. "And from the bottom of my heart, just know that I would just be as honored if you were in my position as well."
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe presented Kutsunai and her colleagues with the awards.
"The teachers here before us all have a shared love for the profession, a deep commitment to strive and become better," Nozoe said. "They inspire, engage and support students by making learning relevant, challenging and, most importantly, fun."
Polynesian Cultural Center dancers and musicians from the Tahitian Village provided a colorful performance and invited the teachers to join them. The center, which has been a State Teacher of the Year corporate sponsor for 27 years, presented each District Teacher of the Year with a $500 check, and Kutsunai received a $1,500 check.
In addition, all seven district winners received instructional software from SMART Technologies and a $200 gas card from Aloha Petroleum, while Kutsunai won a classroom technology package from SMART Technologies worth thousands of dollars and a free one-year lease to use a Kia Hybrid Optima from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers’ Association.
Kutsunai, who has been teaching since 1999, holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a social studies emphasis and a master’s of education and curriculum studies with a middle school emphasis from the University of Hawaii-Manoa.
As a seventh-grade social studies teacher, she said she strives to create a classroom environment where students are not afraid of making mistakes. She has personal conversations with those she knows are struggling, and established monthly Ohana Club socials for faculty to discuss issues and improve relationships.
She said she’s glad she won the award because her school will be in the spotlight.
"I’m all about anything that can bring positive attention to our school," Kutsunai said. "I strongly believe that no one stands alone, not students, not teachers, and the way to success for everyone is by everyone working together."
Kutsunai was selected from this year’s group of District Teacher of the Year winners. The others are:
» Marcus Pottenger of Hokulani Elementary at the foot of St. Louis Heights. Pottenger is the school’s curriculum coordinator for grades 3 to 5, webmaster, adviser for the student council and yearbook committee, and master of ceremonies for student assemblies.
» Tracie Higashi of Hickam Elementary. Higashi coordinates a 9/11 remembrance assembly, has worked to include all grade levels in the music program and adapted the curriculum for students with severe disabilities.
» Victoria Coffin of Keoneula Elementary in Ewa Beach. Coffin started a Kids Initiating Change service club at her school and attended a Fulbright Japanese-U.S. teacher exchange program for education in sustainability development this past summer in Hiroshima, Japan.
» Amoreena Nestman of Kealakehe Elementary in West Hawaii. Nestman is an English-language learner inclusion teacher who enjoys being involved with the school’s Instructional Leadership Team. Her passion and positive attitude are said to be contagious and a powerful influence for students and staff.
» Aaron Loque of Maui Waena Intermediate in Kahului. As a social studies teacher, Loque works with the school’s curriculum leadership team, supervises summer credit recovery classes, develops schoolwide transition plans for students and serves on the accreditation committee.
» Paul Holwegner of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle in Lihue. Holwegner engages students using technology by playing games in the classroom and creating a crime scene "CSI" lesson. He is often seen training colleagues on the latest technology, helping students in the after-school program and organizing career day.
