Vanessa Ching, who treats her students at Ewa Makai Middle School as “colleagues” in the journey of learning, was chosen Friday as the 2018 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year and honored at Washington Place.

“I’d like to really thank my students because they empower me,” Ching, bedecked with lei, said at the ceremony. “They are the ones who inspire me, and they are the ones who help me teach with passion. They are, I consider, my colleagues.

“All I did was give them a few opportunities, and it’s those students who decided to take those opportunities, lead and make the magic.”

Ching, student activities coordinator at Ewa Makai, also heads its Green Program and is the yearbook adviser. A National Board-certified teacher in elementary and special education, she will represent Hawaii in the 2018 National Teacher of the Year Program in April.

“She cares like no other,” said one of Ching’s students and fans, 13-year-old McKenzie Fagin. “She cares about all the little problems we face. Because we have a leadership program at Ewa Makai Middle, we work very closely with her and work together as one.”

Ching met her husband, Joshua, an English teacher, at the school, and he said it’s a challenge to get her to leave the campus because she always has a project to finish up for the kids. He attended the ceremony along with their children, 3-year-old Luke and 1-year-old Kalea, who each wanted a turn with her in the spotlight.

“She’s super-energetic,” he said of his wife, who teaches a program in leadership and stewardship. “The kids take ownership of the program. She just kind of guides them. She pumps them up and gets them inspired.”

The teachers of the year are chosen from among the 11,000 educators in the public school system. Ching was the Leeward District’s finalist for Teacher of the Year. Other finalists for the statewide honor, introduced by Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami, were:

>> Amanda Fretto, a certified special education teacher at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai who advocates for a community of tolerance and acceptance with projects such as Team Unify. (Kauai District)

>> Francine Hughes, a resource teacher in the Hana-Lahainaluna- Lanai-Molokai complex who is known for her shared leadership style and commitment to nurturing relationships. (Maui District)

>> Gregg Iha, a resource teacher in the Leilehua-­Mililani-Waialua Complex Area who initiated the “Six Pillars of Character” program and is known for his commitment to service. (Central District)

>> Erika Kaneo, a support teacher who works with second- and third-graders in the Hilo-Waiakea complex area, and believes students learn best when they feel engaged and feel like they belong. (Hawaii Island District)

>> Del Onaga, a certified career and technical education teacher at Olomana School who heads its engineering academy and helps his students understand “why” so they retain knowledge and find it meaningful. (Windward District)

>> Cristin Priolo, a teacher at the public charter School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability, or SEEQS, focuses on experience-based approaches to learning so her students connect real-world problems to their own lives. (Charter Schools)

>> Naomi Salaveria, a certified teacher in special and elementary education at Liholiho Elementary who chooses to work with students with multiple disabilities, with a steadfast belief that all children can grow. (Honolulu District)

Gov. David Ige and first lady Dawn Amano-Ige welcomed the group to Washington Place.

Each district finalist received $500, and the statewide winner was awarded an additional $1,000 from the program’s longtime sponsor, the Polynesian Cultural Center. The state teacher also receives a one-year lease of a new Kia Forte from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

Ching, a Baldwin High School graduate, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in elementary and special education. She also has a master’s in teaching leadership and national board certification in literacy for elementary and middle schoolers.

“Vanessa has made a tremendous impact on the culture at Ewa Makai Middle as coordinator of student activities and green initiatives, teaching students to reduce their carbon footprints and that of the entire school,” said Superintendent Christina Kishimoto.

Ewa Makai Middle School Principal Kim Sanders agreed.

“Vanessa and her students wrote grants to develop an organic garden, aquaponics and a composting program towards becoming a waste-free school,” Sanders said. “Her dedicated work has been an incredible learning opportunity for our students, and our entire campus and community have been improved as a whole.”

Unebasami recalled the words of one of Ching’s students, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes: “When I was struggling … she helped me realize that this disease cannot dictate my life and helped me plan healthy eating habits … which even included Mrs. Ching changing her diet to help me adjust to my new lifestyle.”

Ching was a special education teacher at several local public elementary schools before becoming student activities coordinator at Ewa Makai.

“What I always remind my students is that whatever you do,” she said, “you do it with passion, you do it with your heart, you do it with the most effort you have.”