Stephanie Mew teaches her third-graders at Kapunahala Elementary that failure is a good thing. She even created an acronym — FAIL, for First Attempt in Learning — to encourage critical thinking and creativity.

“I tell them that if I can fail, you can fail, too. Failure is something to be celebrated, and let’s do it together,” said Mew, who has taught at the Kaneohe school for the last 14 years, after a career in social work.

She says her favorite thing about being a teacher is “asking my students what they want to do, what they want to learn, what they’re curious about and then supporting them to achieve what they want.”

In recognition of her exemplary work in the classroom, Mew was named 2016 State Teacher of the Year, a title the Department of Education bestows upon its top educator. She received the honor Friday from Gov. David Ige and schools Deputy Superintendent Stephen Schatz during a ceremony at Washington Place.

Noting the rigorous selection process, Schatz said the winner must do the following: inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn; maintain the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues; contribute to their school community; be poised and articulate; and possess the energy to withstand a taxing schedule.

“Stephanie helps her students to become good, well-balanced individuals by placing emphasis on the importance of character development in addition to rigorous learning,” Schatz said.

The honor is presented annually to a teacher chosen from more than 11,000 public school educators. Mew will represent Hawaii in the National Teacher of the Year Program in April.

Mew had gathered with this year’s six other District Teacher of the Year winners at the governor’s residence Friday to learn who would earn the top title along with prizes including a $1,000 check from the Polynesian Cultural Center, the award program’s corporate sponsor; a one-year lease of a new car provided by Aloha Kia; and instructional software and products from SMART Technologies.

When Schatz announced her name, Mew looked stunned before emotions overwhelmed her. “This is absolutely an honor, and not because I won, but because I had the opportunity to try,” she said.

At the urging of her principal, Debbie Nekomoto, Mew embarked on an application process that proved rewarding. She recalled that over several months she had to “dig deep” to answer such questions as, Why are you a teacher? What is your philosophy?

“And I hadn’t dug deep for so long,” Mew said. “Because of that opportunity, I came back this year with a lot more energy, with everything in focus, to really know why I teach. And I teach because it makes me a better person. I have to be the values that I want my kids to be at all times, and that really is a great gift.”

Mew is credited with engaging and motivating her students, according to Nekomoto, who says more than 90 percent of Mew’s students meet or exceed proficiency targets in math and reading.

“Because she really thinks about the children and she’s very child-centered, she thinks about what’s going to motivate them to learn, not thinking about ‘What will make it easy for me as a teacher?’ but ‘How am I going to get all of my students to learn — every one?’” Nekomoto said after the event.

Mew holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Chaminade University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also earned two diplomas from the Institute of Sathya Sai Education in Thailand. She previously worked as an instructor at Chaminade University and the Montessori Hale o Keiki on Maui.

The other finalists honored as District Teacher of the Year, who each received $500 from the Polynesian Cultural Center and classroom software and products from SMART Technologies, were:

>> David Paul Braun Jr., Kauai District, Waimea Canyon Middle School.

>> Alicia Chang, Honolulu District, King Liholiho Elementary School.

>> Kathy Lin, Leeward District, Highlands Intermediate School.

>> Joy Takatsuka, Maui District, King Kamehameha III Elementary School.

>> Darryl Yagi, Hawaii District, E.B. de Silva Elementary School.

>> Lynn Yoshioka, Central District, Mililani Middle School.

“All of the teachers of the year from all of the districts are exemplary in their work and in their commitment to our kids,” Schatz said.