Circle of inspiration

Matthew Lawrence’s math and science students at Waikiki Elementary School construct climbing walls, experiment with a tennis ball launcher and build solar-powered go-karts, model homes and bicycle generators because he wants more for them than he had growing up.

"It’s from remembering being in sixth grade completely bored out of my mind and wanting a different experience for the kids I get to teach," he said Friday after being named by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi as the 2014 State Teacher of the Year.

Lawrence gathered with this year’s six other District Teacher of the Year winners at Washington Place to find out who would earn the title, a $1,000 check from the Polynesian Cultural Center and a free one-year lease from Cutter Mazda to drive a Mazda3.

All the district winners, including Lawrence, received $500 from the Polynesian Cultural Center, a State Teacher of the Year corporate sponsor for 28 years. The winners also received instructional software from SMART Technologies.

"How do you make a choice like that?" Abercrombie said of the award. "Because it’s not as if you’re comparing one to another. That’s not the issue — it never has been the issue. What we’re talking about today with these commendations is recognizing the unique contribution that each of these great people has made to their students, to their schools and to their communities."

When Abercrombie announced his "giveaway cue" that the State Teacher of the Year was from "the mindful school," Lawrence reacted instantly by shooting out of his chair — he knew it was him. He approached Abercrombie slowly, shaking his head a few times while parting his blond goatee with a wide, teeth-baring grin.

"I knew I was in trouble. I knew I’d better start preparing to speak," Lawrence joked after the ceremony. "That hint definitely gave it away."

A 12-year veteran at the school, Lawrence explained its mindfulness approach of focusing on the process of learning, rather than just content.

"So skills like persistence and cooperative thinking and meta-cognition — they are more at the heart of our curriculum," he said. "So the projects are my interpretation of how to carry out our school philosophy."

Lawrence earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a middle-school endorsement from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. He now mentors student teachers in UH-Manoa’s undergraduate program.

"When I was a student teacher, I was inspired by a former Teacher of the Year who gave a great speech at a conference," he said. "Her message was to relate personally to your students, and having tried to do that the best I can for the last 12 years, to be recognized in the same way that she was — that means a lot."

The other District Teachers of the Year who were considered for Teacher of the Year were:

» Teresa Cramer of Hale Kula Elementary at Schofield Barracks. Cramer spent 10 years as a social worker helping high-risk children in shelters and outreach programs before she decided to become a teacher. As a fifth-grade special-education teacher, she helped create the first co-teaching immersion class at Hale Kula.

» Dayna Hironaka of Kahaluu Elementary in Kaneohe. Hironaka dedicates herself to her students in and outside of the classroom, often tutoring students or meeting with parents after the bell rings and serving as a mentor for aspiring teachers at Hawaii Pacific University.

» Terra Wight of Nanakuli High and Intermediate. Wight started an ecology club that brings together students and community members to restore native plants to Piliokahe Beach Park. As a member of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team, she helped develop tardiness policies and other changes that improved attendance and achievement.

» Elizabeth Timbal of Keaau High on Hawaii island. Timbal’s colleagues praise her for her classroom management skills and genuine care for students. A former student wrote of her, "You made me discover talents that I never knew I had. You are the only one who took a chance to give me a chance."

» Anthony Williams of Paia Elementary on Maui. Williams started a hula halau at the school to address the needs of Hawaiian immersion students. He also teaches Hawaiian language classes three nights a month to engage parents and is a member of the University of Hawaii-Hilo Hawaiian Immersion Teacher Development Program.

» Justin Yamagata of Waimea Canyon Middle on Kauai. Yamagata started a science fair at the school so students could compete for the first time at the state and international levels. He was named 2013 Hawaii Academy of Science Teacher of the Year and serves as head of the school’s science department.