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Damon,
No, I don't have any Hawaiian blood in me that I know of. Maybe they're having a difficult time finding a qualified Literacy Specialist with Hawaiian blood? I don't think it's a requirement for the position though, but again, it may be a preference. The job posting didn't mention anything in that regard. It may be similar to teaching in an international school (which I considered).
The link to your article was interesting. If it's true that Kamehameha Schools is anti-American as the article implies, (or really, blatantly states)- then I'll fit right in. Right now, I'm anti-American also. (I'm not going down the politics road. I know that's not allowed on this forum).[
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Beth
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Oh - yes, I do know about the multi-mullion dollar lawsuit. Things may be changing at KS due to the outcome of the litigation. I know they have a strong financial position, but how many of those lawsuits can they afford?
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Kamehameha Schools is the largest landowner in Hawaii State, with over 360,000 acres of land and a multi-billion dollar trust fund....
so they are farily well endowed & able to withstand some liability (they also have a very strong legal defense department)
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Honest opinion: keep all your options open until you actually arrive here. Believe me, the employers will be doing the same.
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
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A friend who's an educator on O'ahu and is part Hawaiian once told me that KS does not place the same limits on hiring educators and staff like they do for admitting students.
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I agree with Pam, keep your options open, but I would absolutely choose KS, hands down. You will have a big cultural immersion either way.
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quote:
Kamehameha Schools does not contract any teaching position out with the Hawaii Department of Education. They have very little interaction with each other other than sports teams.
I stumbled upon this in my research and thought I would pass it on.
'The Literacy Instruction and Support division (LIS) provides three programs that enhance literacy among Native Hawaiian children in grades K-3 attending Department of Education (DOE) schools. In the In School Literacy writing program, LIS teachers and tutoring specialists collaborate with DOE teachers to share the responsibility of increased student literacy learning and achievement. Instruction in the writing process, writing/reading connections, and writing/art integration is provided keeping multiple learning styles of Hawaiian students in mind.'
'LIS currently serves 15 DOE schools on four different islands.'
So this answers some of my questions. The others will hopefully be covered in my interview. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Thanks again for all your help and advice! I can't wait to get there!!
Beth