{"id":16644,"date":"2025-10-20T16:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/?p=16644"},"modified":"2025-11-13T11:45:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:45:38","slug":"2025-waikele-elementary-kohala-high-first-schools-in-the-country-to-earn-national-designations-for-academy-pathway-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/sm\/2025-waikele-elementary-kohala-high-first-schools-in-the-country-to-earn-national-designations-for-academy-pathway-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Waikele Elementary, Kohala High first schools in the country to earn national designations for academy pathway programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

HONOLULU \u2013 Waikele Elementary School and Kohala High School were both recognized at the 29th annual National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) conference Monday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for leading the country as schools with strong academy programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waikele Elementary School is the first elementary school in the country to achieve the 2025 NCAC Model Academies with Distinction with its Academy Pathway program. The program\u2019s mission is to support the Waipahu Complex pipeline by providing all students relevant and rigorous learning experiences that will ignite passion and discovery of their career aspirations and ensure students are college, career and citizenship ready. They were the first elementary school in the state to fully implement an Academy Pathway program integrating career and technical education into its school design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very proud of our students, families, and the entire faculty and staff of Waikele. This recognition validates the ongoing work and passion at our school,\u201d Waikele Elementary School Principal Sheldon Oshio said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kohala High School became the first small school in the nation to receive the NCAC Model Academy designation. With a student enrollment of 260, the school offers four career pathways: Natural Resources-Food Systems, Construction, Health-Nursing, and Culinary\u2014each embedding entrepreneurial skills and supported by dedicated teams and community partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Being the first small school in the nation to achieve Model Academy status is a tremendous honor for our school and community. More than the designation itself, this milestone truly represents the continuous and tireless effort of our teachers and staff to provide meaningful, real-world opportunities for our students. Though our town and school are small, the dreams and potential we see in our students are limitless,” said Kohala High School Principal Amy Stafford. “This achievement is a shared success that fuels our commitment to their future.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Superintendent Keith Hayashi was also honored with the 2025 Charles Bowser Leadership Award. This award is named after Charles Bowser, the Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, who established the nation\u2019s first school career academy model in 1969. Bowser was a champion of reimagining the education system and believed that a transformed system could better prepare students to become responsible citizens, pursue careers, continue learning, and achieve lifelong success. In 2020, Hayashi was recognized for implementing the first wall-to-wall national model academy high school in Hawai\u02bbi at Waipahu High School, where he served as principal for 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe demonstrates a leadership style, like that of Charles Bowser, committed to organizational success, rather than personal gain, known for quiet resolve and ability to credit others for their achievements,\u201d NCAC President Jay Steele said. \u201cWith calm confidence and humility, Keith Hayashi leads as superintendent of Hawai\u02bbi public schools, his support for the academy model remains intense and unwavering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference opened with a hula performance by students in James B. Castle High School\u2019s Polynesian Dance and Hula class and a panel moderated by Lord Ryan Lizardo, vice president of education at the Chamber of Commerce Hawai\u02bbi featuring four current public school students and three recent graduates. The panelists shared their experiences in academies, how it supports their current goals and how educators can better support students today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the panelists, like Kamakoa Paulo-Galstote (Wai\u0101kea High, Class of 2025) and Kaylin Guieb (Kapolei High, Class of 2024), are now pursuing higher education after discovering career pathways and gaining work-based learning experiences in high school. Mikah Hall (Pearl City High, Class of 2025) entered the workforce directly after graduation and now works as a welder and rancher on O\u02bbahu \u2014 earning more than both his parents combined, he said. He credits high school internships and hands-on projects with helping him chart his path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current students also spoke about how academy pathways helped them discover their passions and plan for life after graduation. Damien Mendez (James B. Castle High) plans to pursue acting after being introduced to the performing arts. Kylee Jazelle Acob (James Campbell High) hopes to become a veterinarian for zoo animals after interning at a vet clinic. Nick Nishimura (Waipahu High) is considering a career in politics after interning with a state agency where he applied what he learned in his school\u2019s Academy of Natural Resources. Glemarie Pearl Rosete (Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High) wants to become an architect after turning 2D blueprints into 3D models in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NCAC also recognized:<\/p>\n\n\n\n