MAHALOMAHALOMAHALO MATSONA warm mahalo to Matson for their continued support with sponsoring our yearly Beginning Teacher Summer Academy. As a result of this sponsorship, all beginning teacher attendees were recipients of much needed classroom materials and resources.This summer, complex areas across the state hosted Beginning Teacher Summer Academies that prepared first- year teachers for a successful start to the school year. The summer academies provide our newest educators with a strong foundation in essential topics like family communication, optimal learning environments, student engagement, and classroom procedures. In addition, participants also had the chance to connect with other beginning teachers, exchange ideas, and begin building their professional support networks.Beginning Teacher Summer Academy for First Year TeachersSUMMER 2026

The discussions we had today were very informative especially for us beginning teachers. The activities were very engaging and fun at the same time. We learned a lot today. Year 1 BTSA Complex Areas What Did Our First Year BTSA Participants Find Most Impactful?ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford (AMR) ✨ AMR’s educators are collaborating, connecting, and building strong foundations together for the year ahead. 🤝 Connecting, learning, and growing together... AMR teachers are ready for a powerful start! I enjoyed the q&a panel with principals and teachers. I wish we also had a high school gen ed representative along with the sped teacher to get more perspective The presenters who guided us through the sessions were knowledgeable, engaging, and supportive, making the information easy to understand and apply. Thank you for a great professional development experience. Looking forward to more 😀

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihākoʻi-Maui (BKKM)Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani (FKK) and Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt (KMR)❤ Rooted in purpose and connection, BKKM educators are teady to lead with heart. 🌱 Grounding themselves in community and ʻāina, BKKM is setting the foundations for a wonderful year. ✏ Equipped with tools, fresh ideas, and passion, FKK & KMR teachers are set up for a great first year! 🎒 FKK & KMR educators are diving into collaborative planning and gearing up with essential classroom resources

Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea (KKW)Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa (KKP)💡KKP’s educators received valuable insights and resources around HAWAII’s rich culture. 🧩 Building strategies, teaching stronger. KKP's educators are collaborating to ensure a powerful start to the school year. 📚 KKW’s educators are sharing insights and preparing materials for an impactful school year. 💡 After interactive sharing and deep discussion, KKW educators are ready to empower!

Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua (LMW)Castle-Kahuku (CK) and Kailua-Kalāheo (KK)💬 CK & KK educators are engaging in thoughtful discussions and building relationships in the community. 🌺 Inspired educators create thriving classrooms, CK & KK teachers are gearing up for the school year with some awesome swag! 🗺 LMW’s teachers are mapping out big ideas and building a supportive network for the year ahead. 🌟 Collaborative hearts and focused minds. LMW educators are ready to inspire their classrooms.

Pearl City-Waipahu (PW)Nānākuli-Waiʻanae (NW)📝 From classroom strategies to hands-on learning, NW teachers are gearing up for future success! 🌿NW’s educators are planning with purpose and connecting with the ʻāina to enrich student learning. 🍎 New teachers, fresh energy, bright futures. PCW’s newest educators are starting their teaching journeys with teamwork and inspiration. ✨ Learning today to lead tomorrow. Collaboration fuels confidence as our teachers gear up for the first days of school.

Beginning Teacher Summer Academy for Years 2-4 Teachers🌸 Over 50 educators gathered virtually for topic-specific professional development, and engaged in breakout room activities, reflections, and planning next steps. 🗣 Teacher participants learned strategies from veteran teachers and students to help enhance their own practice. Topics ranged from Multilingual Learners to Social Emotional Learning.In an effort to support early career educators, the Hawaiʻi Teacher Induction Center offered four Professional Learning Community opportunities to engage Year 2-4 teachers in evidence-based practices to meet the diverse and evolving needs of new teachers.

The Supporting Multilingual Learners to Success PLC outcomes were to: Develop an awareness of and apply sheltered instruction teaching methods and techniques Collaborate around instructional strategies to support English language development The four PLCs are facilitated by excellent teacher leaders, including Hawaiʻiʻs Teachers of the YearSupporting Multilingual Learners to Success Facilitated by Kari Leong and Suzanne Dadzie “I love it because the facilitators of our PLC+ were clear, on-topic, engaging, and effective. They made sure we networked and collaborated with each other, even if it was online.”

Social Emotional Learning for Students and Teachers Facilitated by Corey Obungen, Heidi Unten, and Kim Dempsey The Social Emotional Learning for Students and Teachers PLC outcomes were to: Build relationships and classroom communities Increase awareness on trauma and its impact on teaching, learning and behavior Gain classroom management strategies Learn teacher self-care and wellness practices “Community with other teachers” “Having a safe space as an educator” “We love the questions for our aloha circles!”

The Special Education Building Capacity and Community PLC was designed to help special education teachers build capacity and community by: Special Education PLC: Building Capacity and Community Facilitated by Lauren Collier and Danny Tsang Providing opportunities to practice and share strategies Exploring key resources and topics, such as: Effective IEP caseload scheduling The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in special education, with a focus on tools like MagicSchool AI and NotebookLM AI Goalbook Best practices for progress monitoring “I appreciate the strategies about systems in the classroom. My start of the school year was very challenging due to students with increased behaviors, but by having systems and spaces in my classroom, it has helped a lot. “

Cultivating a Culture of Belonging: Classroom Observation Model“ I was able to get a lot of strategies out of this PD and I can't wait to put them to use! I'm pushing myself to cultivate these relationships because now I see how important and impactful they can be.” This summer, beginning teachers gathered for the Cultivating a Culture of Belonging series- combining classroom observations and thoughtful discussions- to explore how small, intentional shifts build a truly inclusive environment. Together, teachers examined practical strategies that help to ensure students will feel valued, heard, and a sense of belonging in the classroom. Beyond each teachersʻ individual practice, this shared experience built up a collaborative, supportive community of teachers dedicated to growing together. Facilitated by Cecilia Chang and Gabrielle Cacacho