HSTA members share invaluable lessons, experiences from NEA Global Learning Fellowship
Posted: October 3, 2024
This school year, three Hawaiʻi public school educators are enriching their curriculum with global insights from a life-changing experience.
Over the summer, Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association members Blade Shepherd-Jones, Will Smith, and Chayanee Brooks traveled to Costa Rica with 48 educators from across the country as part of the 2024 NEA Global Learning Fellowship. The year-long program is designed to enhance global awareness within schools and communities that increasingly face issues of climate change, cultural awareness, and sustainability.
Their journey began with a professional development conference in Washington, D.C., and included a 10-day field study to Costa Rica to explore its history, culture, and education system.
“We visited schools, community centers, Universidad para la Paz (University for Peace established by the United Nations General Assembly), and met with esteemed local speakers in the Costa Rican education system,” said Shepherd-Jones, who teaches science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, at Waimānalo Elementary and Intermediate on Oʻahu.
Shepherd-Jones says he was inspired to bring back the country’s philosophy of “pura vida,” or pure life. “It embodies a way of life that emphasizes a positive, laid-back attitude, and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. I would say it’s a Costa Rican version of the Aloha Spirit,” he said.
Brooks, an English teacher at Kaʻu High School, lauded the country’s commitment to sustainability. She’s integrating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into her curriculum to engage her students in global issues and inspire local action.
“My students are from a remote rural school on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi,” she said. “Traditionally, people here rely on the land and natural resources for living, however my students are seeing a majority of teens these days starting to lose touch with what nature provides, making them feel like taking care of our environment is not really their responsibility.”
Brooks aims to change that mindset. One of her students, as an example, is developing a video narrative that illustrates how he sees climate change impact his life through his love of surfing.
“By sharing my field experiences and emphasizing the interconnectedness of our planet, I encourage my students to always have curiosity and ask questions about our impact,” Brooks said.
While in Costa Rica, Smith, a Japanese language instructor at Waipahu High School on Oʻahu, worked with a group of fellow language teachers on projects that allowed students to share their voices through bilingual stories. He says that collaboration was invaluable, and continues to enhance his approach in the classroom.
“All of them are doing incredible things, and just being with the group was enough to get me fired up and recharged for the new school year,” Smith said. “Our group chat is active every day. I know I can ask them questions, float new ideas, and that I will be able to continue to learn from them and be inspired by them for a long time to come.”
All three educators are currently working on capstone projects that showcase their findings. They view the fellowship as an invaluable opportunity for members to broaden their perspectives, and ensure new generations thrive in a global society with knowledge, curiosity, and compassion.
“This fellowship allowed me to experience firsthand the interconnectedness of our world and fueled my passion for teaching,” Brooks said. “I am now better equipped to help my students understand their role as stewards of the planet and active participants in shaping a sustainable future.”
The application period for the 2026 cohort opens in December.