Day will serve as KS Hawai'i kula waena interim po'okumu

KS Hawai‘i Kula Waena breezeway as students walk to their classes.

Jul. 25, 2017

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i has named Dr. Tehani Day as interim po‘okumu for kula waena for the 2017-2018 school year.

Day first joined the Kamehameha ʻohana in 2011 as an 8th grade teacher and advisor. For the last two years, she served the KS Hawai‘i school community as an instructional evaluator and most recently, as the interim curriculum and assessment coordinator.

“From the onset, Dr. Day’s strong pedagogy, valuable experiences as an educator, commitment to excellence and deep aloha for teaching and culture were blessings she brought to our kula waena ʻohana,” shared Scott De Sa, KSH hope po‘okula.

“As a kumu, her infectious personality, witty instructional style and ability to implement relevent learning experiences won the hearts of her students. She was able to transfer those same qualities to her role as an instructional evaluator where Dr. Day coached her colleagues, helping them to uncover their strengths and passion for new learning. Dr. Day is an instructional leader who has been a member of our kula waena administrative team for the last two years. She has commitment and passion for adolescent learners and the experience and growth mindset to lead our kula waena program as interim poʻokumu for the upcoming school year.”

Day is a National Board Certified Teacher in English Language Arts for Early Adolescence. She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Advanced Classroom Instruction from Capella University, her Master of Arts, Teaching from Grand Canyon University and her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University – Hawai‘i in Lāie. She grew up in Puna and graduated from Waiākea High School.

“As I’ve pursued my education and traveled the globe, there has always been one goal in mind… to come back home and use those experiences to mahalo Pauahi for the generous way that she blessed my life, and provide similar opportunities for the next generation of Hawaiian haumāna,” said Day.

“Working at Kamehameha Schools is a dream come true. I’m excited to continue serving, shoulder to shoulder, with the most awesome kumu on the planet, because I truly believe in the mission and vision of Kamehameha Schools, and will push forward in any and every capacity to fulfill it.”

Prior to Kamehameha, Day worked for Sierra Nevada College as an adjunct faculty member and chair for the Master of Arts in Teaching program. She was a project facilitator for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada where her work focused primarily on assessment, accountability, research and school improvement. Dr. Day also taught fourth grade in Clark County and fourth and fifth grade in the Hawai‘i State Department of Education in Haleiwa and Kaʻaʻawa. She has collaborated on numerous publications and conducted many professional development sessions on teaching and learning.

De Sa continued, “I’d also like to acknowledge and mahalo Mrs. Renee Martin, who stepped out of retirement to serve as interim middle school poʻokumu for the 2016 – 2017 SY. As you all know, she did an amazing job in her interim role and cared for our kula waena faculty, staff and students with deep aloha. We are grateful for her willingness to serve in this capacity and wish her well in her retirement.”

Dr. Tehani Day will serve as interim middle school principal for the 2017-2018 school year.