Elementary Education

Alumna Shea Rodriguez ’16 Gives Back to her Maui Community by Helping Middle Schoolers Succeed

October 30, 2017 by University Communications & Marketing

For Chaminade University alumna Shea Rodriguez ‘16, the bachelor’s degree she earned in Elementary Education represents more than personal achievement. It’s also a way of giving back to her hometown of Wailuku, Maui.

“Growing up on the small island of Maui, I was greatly influenced by the community around me, especially those teacher figures who acted like mentors,” Rodriguez said. “Just as they helped and pushed me into success, I knew I wanted to do the same.”

Now Rodriguez is doing just that by teaching middle school mathematics and journalism at her alma mater, St. Anthony School. Established in 1848, this Catholic institution educates preschoolers through high schoolers in the Marianist spirit.

Rodriguez said she’s grateful for the dedication of her education professors at Brogan Hall.

“I believe the Chaminade community truly reflects the aloha spirit that is apparent throughout the state of Hawaii,” Rodriguez said, “where each professor knows your name and goes the extra mile to see you succeed.

“I am also extremely grateful for Maimoa Fineisaloi and the rest of the Campus Ministry team,” Rodriguez said, “for welcoming me with the ever-apparent Marianist spirit and providing me with opportunities to nurture my spiritual growth.”

Rodriguez described Chaminade as an `ohana she’ll belong to forever.

“I am thankful for the opportunities I was provided with,” Rodriguez said, “and the connections I have made and continue to keep.”

Chaminade University’s Division of Education offers undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Secondary Education. For graduate students, the division offers Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education programs.

Future STEM Teachers Inspired by Leading Scientists, Engineers at NASA Institute

September 7, 2017 by University Communications & Marketing

For the second consecutive summer, future teachers studying at Chaminade University gained a behind-the-scenes look at America’s space program. This during a five-day professional development institute conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The training program, funded by NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, helped pre-service teachers enhance their STEM instructional practices. Field trips and other interactive events focused on the International Space Station, a planned mission to Mars and other major NASA initiatives.

Dr. Katrina Roseler, an associate professor with the Division of Education, applied for the program and took seven Chaminade students to Ames Research Center, a major NASA facility in California’s Silicon Valley.

“For me, the most memorable part of the trip was watching the excitement of the students as they engaged in new activities,” Dr. Roseler said. “They developed their engineering design skills and had firsthand learning opportunities with some of the leading U.S. scientists and engineers.”

She pointed out that many elementary schools emphasize mathematics and language arts – because they’re highlighted on standardized tests – at the expense of science education. Moreover, pre-service teachers are only required to complete six hours of science-related coursework in their undergraduate studies.

“As a science educator, to me, this is unacceptable,” Dr. Roseler said, emphasizing that “science knowledge and practices are essential tools for engaging with the world.” NASA addresses this issue, she said, by providing learning experiences for future teachers “that can be directly applied to their future classrooms.”

Danielle Friend ‘18, a double major in Elementary Education and English, said she and the other six Chaminade students “got to go inside a wind tunnel, see how the NASA engineers prepare to send things up to the space station, and so much more.”

“I am excited to share what I learned at NASA with just about anyone who will listen to me,” Friend said. “But mostly, I hope to take what I learned and help encourage students to love science. Teach them that if they work hard, they really can become astronauts or even rocket scientists.”

Katie Grywczynski ‘18, an Elementary Education major, said she wanted to attend the training institute “because it sounded like a really fun opportunity to learn about NASA, their resources and STEM activities I can use in my future classroom.”

“My most memorable part of the trip was getting to tour the facilities/labs and learning about everything that NASA does in our world,” Grywczynski said. “My biggest takeaway from the program was learning about all the amazing and free resources NASA has to offer.”

Elementary Education major Sara Castillo ‘19 said the training program was “jam-packed with so many sessions, tours and lessons.” This included meeting an astronaut, experiencing a mega-computer “that took up a whole upstairs building,” and exploring numerous NASA sites.

“I think my biggest takeaway – literally – is all the physical resources that we were given on the last day of the conference,” Castillo said. “Everyone was given pamphlets, lesson plans, posters for the classroom, stickers and just so many heavy resources – 20 pounds to be exact.

“Many of us were struggling to put it in our luggage without going over the airline’s weight limit,” she added.

Other Chaminade students participating in the training institute were: Angelica Louise Concepcion, Hannah Parker, Marisa Paz and Samantha Tufaga.

Chaminade’s Division of Education offers undergraduate programs in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Secondary Education. The division also offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Education degree or Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

Dedicated Catholic School Educator and Chaminade Alumni Honored as Outstanding Graduate

February 23, 2017 by University Communications & Marketing

Laverne Suster ’82, ’16, who was recently selected by the Master of Education program at Chaminade University as its Outstanding Graduate, has been a dedicated Catholic School educator and a dedicated Chaminade alumni for 35 years.

Suster entered Chaminade University fresh out of high school and in 1982 received her bachelor’s degree in Education with a focus in English. A few months before graduating from Chaminade, she applied to teach at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and was accepted. Three decades of teaching passed, and in 2014 Suster decided to return to college for her post-graduate degree.

Invited to be a part of Chaminade University’s Catholic Educational Leadership Cohort, she decided to go for it. “I went back for my master’s degree only because it was Chaminade. I have always been a dedicated alumni because of the fabulous education I received there,” said Suster.

Her cohort included elementary and high school teachers and school administrators from Catholic schools across the diocese. Cohort members all had to manage jobs and families and scrounge for time and energy to complete their studies. “As a member of the cohort, I can attest that that is the way to go through a master’s program. To be constantly surrounded by people who can relate to every moment you are experiencing is comforting, encouraging and very special,” Suster advised. “I would definitely be a part of a cohort again. I am so appreciative.”

When Suster received the Outstanding Graduate award, it was the culmination of decades spent as a Catholic schools educator combined with the nurturing provided by Catholic educators who taught her from childhood through her undergraduate and graduate studies at Chaminade. Suster entered Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in 1967 when it first opened. The school, which is part of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish in Ewa Beach, serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Attending Our Lady of Perpetual Help as a student, Suster experienced firsthand dedicated teachers who went out of their way to make sure she succeeded. It was there she first wanted to be a teacher. “I knew at around fourth grade,” she recalled. Though her desire faded during her early teen years, by 12th grade she was on fire again and determined to be a teacher. She set her sights on Chaminade University.

Suster loves teaching. It is more a vocation or calling for her. Her joy is evident as she tells you about her sixth, seventh and eighth graders: “I love their senses of humor. A lot of people cringe at the thought of spending 35-40 hours a week with kids this age, but if they take the time to know these kids, they are really creative, energetic and warm-hearted people who just want to find their place in our world. They are really great.”

Suster kept her students apprised of her master’s experience at Chaminade from the very beginning. “They were my sixth graders at the time I started the program. Now they are my 8th graders. I have shared many new things with them including different ways I learned to study or prepare for tests, how nervous I was that I had papers due, and they always encouraged me,” she shared. “When I sent out invitations to my graduation, I didn’t send them to my family members. I sent them to my students and their families because I wanted them to experience a college graduation…a little added inspiration for them. When they actually showed up, I was floored…and so happy,” she recalled.

At the 2016 fall commencement on December 12, her students from Our Lady of Perpetual Help joined her family and friends to cheer her on and cover her with lei. Suster was grateful, and her students were inspired.

“Teach only if you are in love with teaching, and if you should ever fall out of love with teaching, stop! Anything less is a disservice to our children. This should not be one of those occupations that you do just because you can’t find work elsewhere,” Suster emphasized.

Then she added calmly: “Also, just remember to breathe. All teachers would understand that.”