Chaminade University of Honolulu

Education

The Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership Goes to Lanai Principal

The Education Division of Chaminade University announced Elton N. Kinoshita MED ’13 as its inaugural recipient for The Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership.

Kinoshita, who serves the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) as the principal of Lana’i High and Elementary School, humbly accepted the award and recalled how much of an inspiration Katherine Kawaguchi had been for him. He first met Kawaguchi when he chose to transfer from the graduate program at the University of Hawaii to the Chaminade Educational Leadership program. “I heard the Chaminade program was rigorous, and I wanted to learn as much as I could,” he recalled telling her.

Kinoshita was accepted and worked hard to successfully achieve his master’s degree in Educational Leadership. “Toward the end of the program, she asked me if my wish for rigor had been fulfilled. We both laughed as I told her ‘yes’, and that I was completely satisfied with the program and my decision to transfer to Chaminade,” he wrote. “I am so thankful for completing the Chaminade Educational Leadership program as the knowledge that I gained has helped me in my role as principal.”

Kawaguchi recently passed away, but her impact on educators, on the DOE, and on Chaminade and its students continues.

“I will do everything I can to live out the charge for recipients of this award: serving as a stellar role model, exemplary leader and dedicated mentor who will guide with intelligence and integrity,” said Kinoshita.

We Bid Aloha to an Exemplary Educator and Leader

The Chaminade ‘ohana was saddened at the news that Katherine Kawaguchi had passed away. She died on November 7, 2016, at the age of 69.

Earlier this fall, the Education Division had held a farewell retirement celebration for its director of Leadership and Education Projects who had served at Chaminade for nearly a decade. Kawaguchi had spearheaded two major project programs at Chaminade including the Castle K-16 Engineering Pipeline Project, as well as the Office of Naval Research Project and Educational Leadership Program.

Prior to Chaminade, Kawaguchi’s experience as an educator was extensive. During the course of her 33 years of educational experiences in different K-12 school systems, she taught as a high school science teacher in Indianapolis, Long Beach and on the island of Oahu (at Leilehua and Radford High Schools). She served for 20 years with the Hawaii Department of Education as an educational officer, a vice-principal, a State Environmental Education specialist, a Central District educational specialist, and as a state and district resource teacher. She also served Hawaii’s Department of Education as the assistant superintendent of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support.

At Chaminade’s farewell celebration, Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM and interim dean of Education, Dale Fryxell, honored Kawaguchi with a special plaque. Deemed “The Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership,” the plaque read: “The recipient of this award has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in education. The Standards that Kathy Kawaguchi set forth for Educational Leaders are to serve as stellar role models, exemplary leaders, and dedicated mentors who guide with intelligence and integrity. The charge to those receiving this award is to instill these attributes in others.”

Everyone there expressed gratitude and aloha as she bid them a fond farewell.

Katherine Kawaguchi is survived by husband, Ray Kawaguchi; son, Lance (Lily) Kawaguchi; brother, Raymond (Gladys) Tamaribuchi; sister, Sandra (Elliot) Lee; five grandchildren and one hanai grandson.
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Chaminade Teacher Preparation Programs Receive CAEP Accreditation

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has granted accreditation to Chaminade University’s teacher preparation programs that lead to state licensure. The accreditation was given with no weaknesses or stipulations for a period of seven years, the maximum allotted time possible.

CAEP accredited program areas, levels and specialties include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with K-6 Licensure
  • Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education 7-12
    • With Licensure in Math
    • With Licensure in English
    • With Licensure in Social Studies
    • With Licensure in Science
  • Master of Art in Teaching in Early Childhood Education PK-K
  •  Master of Art in Teaching in Early Childhood Education PK-3
  • Master of Art in Teaching in Elementary Education K-6
  • Master of Art in Teaching in Secondary Education 7-12
    • With Licensure in Math
    • With Licensure in English
    • With Licensure in Social Studies
    • With Licensure in Science
  • Master of Art in Teaching in Special Education K-12

According to CAEP, the justification for the accreditation decision was based on the convincing evidence of the quality of learning for candidates pursuing degrees in these programs. The effective operation of a quality control system was also noted. In addition, faculty had documented candidate growth and accomplishment with a variety of measures and were attentive to consistency in performance.

The accreditation is effective through the year 2023. The next site visit will be in spring 2023 for the purpose of auditing the division’s next inquiry brief, which should establish fulfillment of the CAEP standards.

Providers accredited under TEAC Quality Principles, as well as those accredited under the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards, are now served by the single specialized accreditation system for educator preparation in the United States, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). More than 900 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP accreditation system.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.

The mission of the Education Division is closely aligned to and flows from Chaminade University’s mission. The mission of the Education Division is to foster the development of teachers and leaders in education through programs based in the liberal arts tradition, Catholic Marianist values, current research, best practice, and state and professional standards. The graduate programs prepare professionals to assume a leadership role in education by advancing their educational training and expertise.