Aʻohe Pau Ka ʻIke i Ka Hālau Hoʻokahi: A Kumu's Journey Beyond the Classroom

By Dariess Ah Sui, Career Grantee 2025

Dariess is one of our 2025 AAUW Honolulu Career and Leadership Development Grant awardees. Earlier this year, she used her grant to attend the NSTA Conference in Anaheim, and below, she shares her reflection on the experience and its impact on her as an educator.

First of all, thank you for awarding me the AAUW Honolulu Career and Leadership Development Grant. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend the NSTA Conference in Anaheim. Your gener

osity allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the impact this experience has had on me as an educator. As a special education kumu at Ka Waihona o Ka Naʻauao Public Charter School, I am always searching for ways to make learning meaningful, engaging, and accessible for every student. Although I do not teach science specifically, I quickly learned that this conference was about much more than STEM. It was about inspiring curiosity, fostering creativity, encouraging collaboration, and designing learning experiences that allow all students to be successful.

One of the greatest lessons I took away from this experience reminded me of an ʻōlelo noʻeau, Aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi, all knowledge is not taught in the same school. This conference reminded me that learning extends far beyond our own classrooms. I had the opportunity to learn from educators across the country, explore innovative ideas, and discover new ways to support student learning. From LEGO Education and engineering design challenges to digital escape rooms, artificial

intelligence, and hands-on instructional strategies, every session encouraged me to think differently about teaching and the many ways students can learn.  This experience aligns beautifully with the mission of Ka Waihona o Ka Naʻauao, where we strive to develop socially responsible, resilient, and resourceful young men and women through academic excellence, social confidence, and Hawaiian cultural awareness. The strategies I gained will help strengthen our commitment to providing engaging learning experiences while supporting the diverse needs of our students. They also reinforce the importance of creating classrooms where collaboration, perseverance, creativity, and problem-solving are celebrated, qualities that reflect our Nā Mea Waiwai (school core values) of Hōʻihi, Kuleana, Mālama, Haʻahaʻa, Lōkahi, and Hoʻomau. Perhaps the most meaningful realization was that innovative teaching is not about replacing relationships, it is about strengthening them. At Ka Waihona, we believe that meaningful learning begins with caring relationships and a strong sense of community. Every new strategy I bring back will be grounded in those values and adapted to honor our students, their identities, and the community we serve.

As I learned more about AAUW Honolulu's commitment to advancing gender equity through education, leadership development, and community partnerships, I became even more appreciative of this opportunity. By investing in women and their professional growth, you are investing in entire communities. The knowledge and experiences I gained will extend far beyond my own professional growth, they will impact my students, their families, my colleagues, and the future learning experiences we create together. Looking ahead, I am excited to incorporate many of these new ideas into my classroom, including hands-on engineering challenges, game-based learning, AI-supported instructional tools, and collaborative problem-solving activities. I also look forward to sharing these resources with fellow educators so that the benefits of this experience continue to grow throughout our school community.

As someone who was born and raised on the Waiʻanae Coast and now has the privilege of teaching in the same community, this opportunity holds special meaning. Thank you for believing in me, supporting women in leadership, and recognizing the lasting impact that professional learning can have on students and communities. Your generosity has strengthened me as an educator, and I look forward to paying that investment forward every day in my classroom. Mahalo for your support, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to empowering women throughout Hawaiʻi. I am honored to be one of the many professionals whose journey has been strengthened because of your investment.