Updated at 1:58 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2007
Hawai'i's Milken educators honor 'Teacher of Promise'
Advertiser Staff
The National Milken Educators of Hawai'i has presented its first "Teacher of Promise" award to Natalie Rodrigues, a 5th-grade teacher at Mililani Waena Elementary School.The Board of Education announced the winner yesterday.
The award is for a new teacher who demonstrates the highest qualities of a professional educator. It includes a plaque, gift basket, and a check for $1,000.
Members of the National Milken Educators of Hawai'i are all past recipients of the $25,000 National Milken Educator Awards. They formed NME-Hawaii in 1996 to promote and enhance the quality of teaching and the education profession in Hawai'i.
They established the "Teacher of Promise" award to recognize outstanding public school teachers in Hawai'i during their first four semesters of teaching. The award will alternate annually between elementary and secondary school teachers.
In addition to the state winner, the program awards gift packages and plaques to up to 14 more teachers each year — one from each complex area.
This year's complex area winners were: Maile Bajet, Aiea Elementary; Lanelle Oshiro, Manoa Elementary; Kirstie Akana, Waiau Elementary; Jade Bright, Ahuimanu Elementary; and Eddeille Boado Thomas, Kohala Elementary.
