Learning impact outside of the classroom

She and her colleagues also strive to make learning authentic and connected to students’ lives through community-based learning experiences and relationship-building.

“Learning doesn’t always take place just with us teachers or in a classroom, but it can be anywhere outside of the classroom,” Pokipala said.

“Allowing our students to go out into the community, talking to people in our community, being familiar with this space that they’re growing up in is important so that once they leave us, there is a connection that they’re going to remember,” she added.

Beyond the classroom, Pokipala became a strong advocate for student voice and educational equity. She recently helped guide Castle students through the legislative process while advocating for free school meals at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol.

“So the free school meals issue was one that caught my students’ attention,” Pokipala said. “We brought in a bunch of guest speakers and organizations to share issues going on, and that one was important to them because a lot of them could relate.”

As a result of Castle students’ advocacy at the legislature last year, thousands more keiki across Hawaiʻi will have access to free breakfasts and lunches at school. Starting this school year, students who previously paid a reduced price for school meals now receive free meals.

“And so as a teacher, I’m there to guide them through the process of doing the research, looking at both sides of the issue,” she continued. “And really, it’s just they got to see that using their voice is super important because if not, people will make decisions for them.”

Supporting her colleagues and the teaching profession

Pokipala also serves as a peer mentor and instructional coach for fellow teachers through collaborative coaching aimed at continuous improvement.

“The coaching cycle is super beneficial, whether it’s me as an individual, as a coach, or a peer-to-peer mentor. But this has to happen if we want to increase student learning,” she said.

“As teachers, we’re continuing to learn and not just doing the same things over and over, but looking at data as well,” she added. “Okay, what is our data telling us? What do we need to improve on?”

Pokipala said her own experiences as a student inspired her to become a teacher and return to serve her community.

“My experiences weren’t the best in high school, and I wanted to change that for students,” she said.

“And so once I got to college, that’s where I realized, like, hey, you know, I want to go back to my school and help my community,” Pokipala continued. “Just help kids see that reading and writing aren’t such a bad thing and that it can be fun.”

For Pokipala, some of the most rewarding moments come when students begin believing in themselves and their own voices.

“When they read their final essay, it’s like, ‘Wow, I wrote that,’” she said. “And that’s the beauty of why I love teaching is because that’s the goal. I want to build our future leaders up so that they can be confident in themselves.”

Though honored to receive the STACY Award, Pokipala said recognition has never been what motivates her work.

“I’m appreciative of this STACY Award,” she said. “Knowing that our union is out there highlighting teachers.”

Ultimately, I do what I do because I want to make sure our students are set for whatever is to come for them after high school and their future,” she said.

Watch the ceremony held May 16 in which Pokipala accepted the STACY award.