{"id":128593,"date":"2020-10-12T15:34:04","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T01:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=128593"},"modified":"2024-03-15T13:49:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T23:49:12","slug":"american-samoa-territorial-teacher-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/10\/12\/american-samoa-territorial-teacher-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"College of Education alumna named American S\u0101moa Territorial Teacher of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"female\"<\/p>\n

Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka<\/strong>, a PhD<\/abbr> student in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s College of Education (COE<\/abbr>) Learning Design and Technology<\/a> (LTEC<\/abbr>) department, has been named the American S\u0101moa Territorial Teacher of the Year. An English teacher at Samoana High School where she attended school, Suluai-Mahuka earned a BEd<\/abbr> and MEd<\/abbr> from the COE<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“Ever since I became an educator, this award has always been a goal of mine,” Suluai-Mahuka said. “I\u2019ve worked assiduously to improve with every lesson and with every school year, I was motivated to push through all the late hours that are demanded of a teacher. As such, I am honored to be bestowed this prestigious title, and it is especially special to me as my mother was awarded this same title 10 years ago.”<\/p>\n

Suluai-Mahuka is also a graduate advisor and lecturer in the college\u2019s PACMED<\/abbr><\/a> program where she earned her master\u2019s degree. The focus of this curriculum studies program is on culturally-responsive, Pacific, place-based science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics subjects. <\/p>\n

PACMED<\/abbr> Director Deb Zuercher<\/strong> said, “I was not only Sabrina\u2019s cohort instructor and graduate advisor, but I was also her mother\u2019s! Jewele Suluai was also the Territorial Teacher of the Year and a COE<\/abbr> BEd<\/abbr> and MEd<\/abbr> graduate.” <\/p>\n

Before Samoana, Suluai-Mahuka began her teaching career at Faʻasao Marist High School as head of the English department. She credits the COE<\/abbr> with having a major role in her career, having gained the necessary knowledge and experience to become a more effective teacher. <\/p>\n

She concluded, “With amazing instructors and phenomenal lessons, I was taught to employ effective classroom management strategies, plan meaningful and engaging lessons, and meet the needs of all my diverse learners. I am grateful to have been able to obtain such an amazing education, and I hope to see more educators, who are passionate about their profession, join in and pursue higher education with the College of Education.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka is also a graduate advisor and lecturer in the college\u2019s PACMED<\/abbr> program where she earned her master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[679,142,95,342,630,9,1626],"class_list":["post-128593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-alumni-recognition","tag-award","tag-college-of-education","tag-english","tag-learning-design-and-technology","tag-uh-manoa","tag-women-of-uh","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t