OUR SCHOOLS • KANE'OHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal also teaches algebra, is active in sports

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KANE'OHE — Kane'ohe Elementary School principal Mitchell Otani goes far beyond his administrative duties in an effort to build rapport with students.

Kane'ohe Elementary School Principal Mitchell Otani conducts a daily algebra class for advanced math students in the sixth grade. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

When there's a good relationship, the students will talk to you, especially when there's trouble, Otani said.

"When you have rapport, you can nip the problems in the bud before they get worse," he said. "If your sixth-graders are well behaved, your fifth-, fourth- and third-graders are well behaved. It's the trickle-down effect."

The hour-long algebra class is for advanced math students who demonstrate they can deal with complex ideas, said Otani, who noted that many of his students have gone on to distinguish themselves in intermediate and high school.

"So you give the kids a little bit of a head start and they can perform," he said.

"It's the best-spent one hour of the day."

Many administrators lose touch with teaching and trends, said Kristie Araki, student service coordinator, who believes that Otani is the only principal on O'ahu who teaches a class regularly.

"It's his way of keeping up with the times," she said.

• What are you most proud of? Staff and teachers who are willing to pitch in and help others. "Nobody says, 'It's not my job,' " Otani said.

• Best-kept secret: Otani's algebra classes, according to Araki.

• Everybody at our school knows: Cafeteria manager Sharon Egi, who not only feeds everyone but also is always volunteering for PTA activities and coordinating fund-raisers.

• Our biggest challenge: Leaving no child behind. The most problematic category are the "gap" kids who don't qualify for special education but still need the advantages offered in small-group learning, according to Otani.

• What we need: Music, PE and art teachers. All elementary schools should have these teaching positions, Otani said. At Kane'ohe, the PTA pays for a music teacher, and a grandparent solicits college students to help with art projects.

• Projects: Once a month, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders produce a news video for the school, doing the writing, anchoring, taping and editing themselves.

• Special events: The Read Aloud Program began Tuesday night. In the six-session program, parents and children meet at the school, break into groups, are read to by volunteers and have a free dinner. The purpose of the program is to promote lifelong readers.

The Read Aloud Program meets every two weeks and will meet again Sept. 3 at 5:45 p.m. All Kane'ohe Elementary parents and their children are invited.

To get your school profiled, reach education editor Dan Woods at 525-5441 or dwoods@honoluluadvertiser.com.