By Ger Thao
In her Presidential inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb,” Amanda Gorman (2021) eloquently recites:
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it
Four years have passed since Gorman shared these unifying words–a moment when Americans elected Joe Biden, President and Kamala Harris as the first woman of color, Vice President. Yet, our nation remains deeply divided, as evidenced by the ongoing fractures in society today.
Now, as we approach another election, progressive educators know that schools can be used to help bridge our differences and champion an education rooted in the project of democracy. John Dewey (1980) explained, “democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife” (p. 139). In this generation, we recognize the strong link between education for democracy and social justice education. That is, education must uphold the principles of equality, fairness, freedom and justice (see the Progressive Education Network’s mission and vision). United by a shared purpose and unwavering commitment to bettering our communities, we find solace and strength in our collective efforts. It is this steadfast dedication to each other and to our passionate cause that propels us forward, answering the moral call to be brave enough not just to “see it” (envision change), but to “be it”(embody it in our actions).
To accomplish these ends, we know that we must equip our educational and student leaders with a moral compass, tools, resources and networks to be able to “climb the hill” and enact meaningful change in the lives of our keiki, ‘ohana, and lāhui. This is the pragmatic progressive education spirit that ignited the Social Justice Education in Hawai‘i Project close to seven years ago, and it is the motivating force that keeps the project alive today. It is also the reason why we are excited to announce the incredible group of educators and students who are the recipients of the 2024-25 Hawai‘i Social Justice Educator Awards!
The Social Justice Education in Hawai‘i Project
Originally launched in the 2018-19 school year, the Social Justice Education in Hawai‘i Project partnered with the nationally renowned Learning for Justice program with the aim of propelling social justice education forward in the state of Hawai‘i and beyond. Today, the pioneers of this initiative, the Hanahauʻoli School Professional Development Center (PDC) and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Education (UHM COE), persist in their mission by offering comprehensive programming. These efforts are geared towards enhancing the capacity of local educators to empower youth as engaged participants in a diverse democracy. With the ongoing generosity and support of Jana and Howard Wolff, the project remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that educators and school practitioners have access to high-quality professional development opportunities and resources essential for effectively implementing social justice education in Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i Social Justice (HSJ) Educator Award
Spearheaded by Project Leads Dr. Amber Makaiau, Dr. Patricia Halagao, and Dr. Ger Thao, the project unveiled a new addition to the initiative in 2022: the Hawai‘i Social Justice (HSJ) Educator Award. In acknowledgment of the often overlooked efforts of educators, the HSJ Educator Award endeavors to celebrate and sustain local educational trailblazers who are dedicated to exemplary social justice work across the state of Hawai‘i. This financial award program is designed to bolster and nurture their endeavors. Funding projects at both the Teacher/Classroom Level and the School/System Level, the award seeks initiatives that yield measurable student outcomes and foster enduring systems change. Applicants undergo rigorous selection based on criteria including community need, prior social justice endeavors, and a clear roadmap for perpetuating their impactful work.
Each school year, two exemplary educators are being honored with a $2,500 award for their outstanding project proposals. For the time being, these awards will be granted for the academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27. In the previous academic year, we proudly presented our inaugural 2023-24 awards to Jonathon Medeiros of the Future Teachers of Hawaiʻi club, and Natalie Lalagos from the Transformative Translation program. You can learn more about their remarkable contributions in a previous post to our Progressive Education blog and on the What School Could Be Podcast. We eagerly anticipate the continued courageous endeavors of these two social justice leaders.
2024-25 HSJ Educator Award Recipients
As we embark on the second award year for 2024-25, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on two local educators whose exceptional project proposals and unwavering dedication to social justice education have inspired us all. Join us in celebrating Ululani Brigitte Russo Oana and Jessica Sobocinski as the recipients of the 2024-25 HSJ Educator Award!
Dr. Ululani Brigitte Russo Oana serves as a Kanaka ʻŌiwi educator at Waiʻanae Intermediate School, embodying an unwavering dedication to cultivating culturally responsive pedagogy and promoting environmental stewardship through an Aloha ʻĀina curriculum. Her advocacy extends to nurturing Hawaiian identities among her students, ensuring their voices and needs are heard and addressed. Dr. Oana's overarching goal is to advocate for all Hawaiian children who navigate within a Western-centric educational system lacking in opportunities to foster traditional Hawaiian knowledge (ʻike kūpuna). She holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus on Curriculum Studies & Instruction from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, complemented by a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Studio Art, with a concentration in drawing and ceramics, along with a minor in East Asian Studies from Lewis & Clark College.
Dr. Oana and her students are being recognized for their continued devotion to the restoration of Keawaʻula. For over seven years, through amazing partnerships (DLNR, DOFAW, ANRP, KUPU, Mālama Learning Center, Kaʻala Farm, and more) they have been immersing themselves in the cultural significance of this wahi pana within their community, and actively engaging in mālama ʻāina activities at this sacred site eight times a year. This award will support 400 students in continuing and sustaining the work. Their efforts transcend local boundaries, as they venture into state parks and examine the intricacies of land ownership across the entire state through a lens of social justice. Throughout this ongoing transformative journey, students gain valuable insights into the pressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species, often resulting from the prioritization of financial gain over the well-being of our ʻāina. To confront these issues directly, students embark on mālama ʻāina field trips, where they learn and actively contribute to the revitalization of our ʻāina. This hands-on involvement fosters a sense of stewardship, transforming them into not only guardians of the land but also essential contributors to the well-being of their community. Recognizing the utmost significance of this work, Dr. Oana endeavors to foster a deep connection between students and the ʻāina. She firmly believes that nurturing the next generation of land stewards is not only beneficial but essential for the future prosperity of our lāhui.
For more than ten years, Jessica Sobocinski has dedicated herself to school gardens and farm-to-school education in Hawaiʻi, serving as an educator, curriculum creator, and program administrator. Her passion lies in culturally-responsive, placed-based food and agriculture education, recognizing its power to foster resilience in children and communities alike. Jessica earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Indiana University and a M.Ed. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Currently, she serves as a first-grade teacher on Hawaiʻi Island, where she devotes her free time to cultivating native plants and engaging in the art of hula dancing.
Jessica's upcoming project involves curating a living bibliography of social justice-themed picture books tailored for K-2 students, meticulously selected to depict the diverse people, places, stories, and cultures of Hawaiʻi. These resources will be made accessible to educators statewide. Furthermore, she plans to allocate funds towards acquiring approximately 100 books from this bibliography, establishing a physical social justice library within her school. Given the current shortage of texts in the mandated ELA curriculum of Hawaiʻi Department of Education schools that authentically represent Hawaii's communities, this initiative aims to integrate culturally-relevant and enriching literature into the classroom. By doing so, the project endeavors to foster positive connections between students' identities and those of their peers, as well as cultivate empathy, curiosity, and respectful dialogue surrounding diverse identities and experiences. Specifically chosen texts will also empower students to recognize injustice on both personal and systemic levels, prompting critical reflection on the ways they, their families, and their communities are affected by such injustices.
Honoring Student Leaders: Kids Voting Hawai‘i
This year, we are also thrilled to shine a spotlight on the inaugural recipients of our Hawai‘i Student Social Justice Education (HSSJE) Award of $500. The inspiration behind this new “student-driven” social justice education award stems from the remarkable work of the Kids Voting Hawaiʻi program, spearheaded by student leaders Sophia Howell, Khan Ho, and Lulu Cole, with support from Mr. Parker Tuttle and Dr. David Ball. These three individuals are active members of the Davis Democracy Initiative at Punahou School, where they have been deeply influenced by its mission: raising discussions of equity, justice, civil discourse, and finding common ground despite differences in perspectives.
Sophia Howell ‘26, a sophomore at Punahou School, assumes the role of Coordinator for the Education group within the Davis Democracy Initiative. Within this dynamic working group, Sophia exhibits an interest in issues pertaining to racial and cultural injustice in education, alongside concerns regarding Hawaii’s literacy rate and the impact of COVID-19 on educational progress.
Kahn Ho ‘25, a Hanahau'oli graduate and now Junior at Punahou School, serves as a commissioner on the City and County of Honolulu’s Youth Commission, a position appointed by Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Passionate about effecting change, Kahn channels his energy towards addressing pressing issues such as affordable housing and advocating for the cessation of the youth-to-prison pipeline.
Lulu Cole ‘27, currently in ninth grade at Punahou School, stands as a Life Scout in BSA Troop 11 and plays an active role in both the Speech and Debate and Astronomy Clubs. Her pursuits are driven by a keen interest in promoting access and equity in STEM fields, fostering civic engagement, and championing initiatives that uphold democracy.
Parker Tuttle ‘13 is presently interning with the Davis Democracy Initiative at Punahou School while pursuing a Master of Education in Teaching at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His academic pursuits are driven by an interest in delving deeper into student-centered inquiries, integrating geography with culturally responsive pedagogy, and fostering civic engagement within the secondary social studies classroom.
Dr. David Ball serves as an Academy English Instructor and Coordinator of the Davis Democracy Initiative at Punahou School. With a lifelong dedication to social justice education, he boasts over 25 years of experience teaching students from kindergarten to the university level. Presently, Dr. Ball instructs courses such as "Visual Storytelling" and "Bias in America" at Punahou, in addition to co-teaching "Leaders of Social Justice in Education" jointly offered by Hanahau‘oli’s Professional Development Center and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Education.
Through their collective endeavors, this group of youthful leaders stands prepared to implement Kids Voting Hawai‘i in schools statewide. They aim to establish a Student Leadership Committee, which will exist in perpetuity to organize a statewide mock election for students across the State every election year. This committee, comprising high school students from diverse backgrounds across Hawai‘i, will oversee all logistical aspects and implement improvements based on previous election outcomes. Since its revival in 2020, Kids Voting Hawai‘i has engaged 42 public and charter schools. Their objective is to use the Student Leadership Committee to expand participation by 25%, equivalent to approximately 10 additional schools. The overarching mission of Kids Voting Hawai‘i is to enhance civic engagement among youth statewide. Through conducting a comprehensive youth election, they aim to introduce upcoming generations to the voting and electoral process, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and pride. By instilling an understanding of the power of voting and the democratic process, they aspire to instigate tangible change within communities, promoting increased involvement among both youth and their respective communities.
Looking Forward: Building a Brighter Future
As we enter the spring of 2024 and gear up for our next election, Amanda Gorman's poignant words from her inaugural poem, "The Hill We Climb" (2021), continue to resonate, reminding us of the importance of unity and inclusivity:
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
She reminds us that while our screens are inundated with images of conflict and unrest it is crucial to support our youth and communities as they navigate their emotions, seek to understand these turbulent events, and make positive change in the world. This is the work of social justice educators and is the purpose of the Hawai‘i Social Justice Education Project. May we continue to foster unity among educators, students, and communities, reaffirming our commitment to ongoing collaboration with fellow advocates. Together, we will courageously forge ahead, creating safe spaces and advancing the social justice in education movement into the future. Congratulations to Dr. Ululani Brigitte Russo Oana, Jessica Sobocinski, and the student leaders of Kids Voting Hawai‘i. Your courage, compassion, and dedication to social justice education inspire us all! Let us continue the journey together, being brave enough to see the light and bold enough to be the change.
Works Cited
Dewey, J. (1980). The Middle works, 1899-1924. SIU Press.
Gorman, A., & Winfrey, O. (2021). The hill we climb: an inaugural poem for the country. New York: Viking.
ABOUT THE Contributor:
Dr. Ger Thao serves as a Program Specialist for Model Curriculum at the Orange County Department of Education and holds the role of Program Manager for the Social Justice Education in Hawai‘i Project. With a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she brings a wealth of academic expertise to her work. Dr. Thao also holds an MA in Education with a focus on Curriculum & Instruction, a BA in Liberal Studies, and a Multiple Subject teaching credential from CSU, Chico. Prior to her current roles, Dr. Thao spent eight years as an elementary teacher and ELA Intervention Specialist in northern California. She is also an accomplished author, having written a bilingual children’s book titled “The Hmong Journey: Hmoob Txoj Kev Taug” and co-edited “Hmong Teacher Experiences: Voices from the Field.” Dr. Thao's dedication lies in collaborating with educators to create inclusive literature, curriculum, and professional development programs that celebrate diverse perspectives, including multicultural, indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander narratives. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds joy in outdoor activities and cherishing her role as an auntie to her 21 nieces and nephews.
