Big Isle tech educator named 2019 Teacher of the Year

Even though Mathieu Williams teaches technology and digital media at Kealakehe Intermediate School, he subscribes to a more humanistic approach to education.

“If I teach students how to use that camera or that computer, it’s a disservice to them,” he said. “But if I teach students how to learn, how to find information, how to talk with people, how to be kinder, more loving and accepting, I think that’s the product that I want out of my students.”

Williams, who teaches technology and digital media at the Big Island school, was named the state Department of Education’s 2019 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year, selected from eight finalists. DOE schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto and Gov. David Ige were on hand Friday when he was presented with the honor at Washington Place.

Williams, 29, said he tells students to be curious and pursue what they love, and that “relationships are everything.”

“That to me is what encompasses my passion and drive for making sure students have digital literacy skills and they understand how to use digital media properly,” he said.

Williams’ first teacher was his mom, Linda Williams, who home-schooled her active, bright son from kindergarten through eighth grade on Kauai, rounding out his studies with extracurricular activities such as raising chickens, violin and singing lessons, travel and sewing.

His father, Dennis Williams, instilled in him a strong work ethic, encouraging him “to chase the best version of myself,” he said, as well as teaching him online stock trading at the age of 16.

The family moved to Bellingham, Wash., and then British Columbia, and after earning a business degree from Walla Walla University in Washington, Williams seemed headed toward a career as a stockbroker. But he surprised his parents by becoming a teacher after joining the Teach America program while in college.

He said he wants to teach students how to be responsible, ethical users of technology, “to look at problems differently and solve problems through technology and by doing it innovatively.”

“Social media is a tool that you can point to yourself and, ‘Here’s what I’m doing,’ but can we turn the lens around and really tell the story of other people and change the world by what we share, whether it be by photography, web design or video?”

Williams took his media students to the 15th annual Student Television Network National Convention in Nashville, Tenn., last March, where they won awards for spot feature and movie trailer, and has brought students to train with digital media professionals at PBS Hawaii and to host the “Hiki No” program.

“What’s so amazing about him is he brings people together,” said Kealakehe history teacher and friend David Nahuina. “He’s very deserving.”

Williams will travel to Washington, D.C., in April when the National Teacher of the Year will be announced.

The other Hawaii finalists are Shane Albritton, Public Charter Schools, SEEQS; Brandon Arakawa, Maui District, Kahului Elementary; Sean Doi, Kauai District, resource teacher; Sam Hankins, Honolulu District, Kawananakoa Middle; Gail Izumigawa, Leeward District, Waipahu High; Mary Ann Kurose, Central District, Radford High; and Debbie Morrow, Windward District, Kailua Elementary School.