Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) President & CEO Tom Barlow recently announced a $4,000 grant by the Bank of Hawaii Charitable Foundation to PREL’s Pacific Teacher Scholarship Fund.
One of the greatest challenges for K–12 education in the Pacific is the shortage of qualified teachers. In many of our island nations, the majority of public school teachers have not yet earned bachelor’s degrees. The Pacific Teacher Scholarship Fund aims to increase the number of qualified teachers in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific, inspire the many valuable teachers in the Pacific to become certified, and encourage talented teacher candidates to remain in the region as educators.
Donations, such as Bank of Hawaii’s generous gift, help enable PREL to continue to support teacher certification in the Pacific region. You, too, can assist by donating to the scholarship fund.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) President and CEO Tom Barlow recently announced the opening of PREL’s new Guam Service Center located at Oceanview Middle School.
Pamela Legdesog has been appointed PREL’s Guam Service Center Liaison. Ms. Legdesog, who has been with PREL for 15 years, comes to Guam after 11 years serving as liaison to PREL’s Yap Service Center. Prior to that, she worked in PREL’s Honolulu office.
Gene Dydasco joins the PREL team and the Guam Service Center from the Guam Public School System (GPSS), where he has been an Acting Assistant Principal at the high school level.
For additional information, please refer to the complete media release.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) has announced two new contracts to provide consulting and development services to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The work for one contract, valued at $400,000 and to be performed by PREL’s Pacific Assessment Systems and Services, is to provide consulting services in the development of K–12 reading and writing assessments during the period August 2007 to August 2008. Specifically, PREL will work on the development of FSM national reading and writing assessments for grades prekindergarten–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8, 9–12, and the college preparatory program, for a total of 14 tests.
For additional information, please refer to the complete media release.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Collaborating with the East-West Center, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) is proud to share with its Pacific region constituents information about fellowships in the East-West Center’s Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP).
Entering its 8th year, the APLP is the center of excellence for leadership education in the Asia-Pacific region. The APLP is a graduate certificate program through the University of Hawai‘i that combines the development of regional expertise with the enhancement of individual leadership capacity. Based at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, the program is creating a network of dynamic leaders who are familiar with the critical issues of the Asia-Pacific region. The APLP Fellowship is valued at approximately $10,000.
For additional information, please refer to the complete media release.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Guam Senator Judith Won Pat, EdD, has joined Pacific Resources for Education and Learning’s (PREL’s) Board of Directors, President and CEO Tom Barlow announced recently.
With experience earlier in her career as a teacher and school principal and more recently as a policy maker and Senator in the Guam Legislature—where she is currently Acting Chair of the Committee on Education—Senator Won Pat comes to the PREL Board well-versed in matters relating to education on Guam.
For additional information, please refer to the complete media release.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Paul Hadik, State Director of Education in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), has joined Pacific Resources for Education and Learning’s (PREL’s) Board of Directors, President and CEO Tom Barlow announced recently.
Appointed Kosrae State Director of Education this year, Director Hadik comes to PREL’s Board with over 10 years of experience in Kosrae’s educational system. Most recently, before his appointment as Director of Education, Hadik was principal of Kosrae High School (KHS).
For additional information, please refer to the complete media release.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Three people associated with Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) were listed in Pacific Magazine's 2007 Pacific People Issue. Those listed are leaders in the Pacific region in fields like politics, business, and education.
PREL President & CEO Dr. Tom Barlow is one of 19 people from Hawai‘i who made this year’s list. Dr. Barlow has over 30 years of experience in education and received his EdD in Administration, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Nebraska. He started at PREL in 1996 as Chief Operating Officer and was selected to lead the organization in 2003. Dr. Barlow was formerly Director of Curriculum and Instruction Field Services at Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning and began his education career as a classroom teacher in public schools.
Surangel Whipps, Jr., Chair of the Executive Committee of PREL’s Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the Board, is one of 26 people listed from the Republic of Palau. Whipps, Jr., is President and CEO of Surangel and Sons Company and President of Surangel’s Worldwide Travel Corporation.
Dr. Rita Inos, former PREL Board Chair, is one of 24 people listed from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Dr. Inos is Chair of the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents and former CNMI Commissioner of Education.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning recently recognized its first employee of the year, as well as several long-term employees who have been with the organization for as many as 15 years.
Frances Oshiro, Administrative Assistant with the JUMP Into Reading for Meaning program, was selected by her fellow employees to receive the first annual PREL Employee of the Year Award. The award recognizes enhancement of team productivity and engagement; work outside of normal expectations; consistent demonstration of efficiency, integrity, client service, and leadership; and efforts to cross unit boundaries and promote understanding and esprit de corps. Ms. Oshiro attended a special awards dinner with PREL’s Board of Directors, and has her choice of either a check for $500.00 or 2 days off. She was presented with an engraved award and will have her name inscribed on a perpetual plaque displayed in PREL’s Honolulu office.
PREL also recognized the dedication of its longest serving staff members. Pam Legdesog, Jamie Mitte, Gwen Okamoto, and Zee Oshiro received 15-year service awards; Lori Phillips and Christine Stone received 10-year awards; and Jackie Burniske, Miki Cachola-Solomon, Bernadette Eshima, Sonja Evensen, Art Garbiso, Susan Hanson, Gabriel Nae‘ole, Evelyn Ooka, Carol Osterheim, Jennifer Padua, Keres Petrus, and Kaira Resch received 5-year awards. The awards were presented at the awards dinner and service awardees were presented to their peers at a PREL-wide gathering in Honolulu capping a week of staff development opportunities.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Jay Lidell, host of Hawai‘i Public Radio’s ThinkTech Radio, invited representatives from Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) to appear on his show on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
“Looking at the Pacific islands through the eyes of PREL—How things have changed over the past 5 years,” will feature Tom Barlow, President & CEO; Jackie Burniske, Executive Director, Center for Information, Communications, and Technology (CICT); Ormond Hammond, Director of Planning; and Canisius Filibert, Director, Territories and Freely Associated States Education Grant Program (T&FASEGP).
ThinkTech Radio is a drive-time talk show broadcasting on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Hawai‘i Public Radio KIPO FM 89.3.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) has been selected by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to receive a $652,000 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant. The 3-year project, entitled “Leaders for Pacific Libraries,” will enable PREL to bring continuing education opportunities to preprofessional library staff throughout the Pacific region. The specialized training sessions will assist library staff from libraries, archives, museums, and related information agencies in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawai‘i, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
For additional information, please refer to the complete media release.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) has announced a new $230,000 contract to provide data management, curriculum, and assessment services to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Public School System (PSS) and State Board of Education. The work will be performed by PREL’s Pacific Assessment Systems and Services between July 2007 and October 2008.
For additional information and to read the complete media release, please visit here
(Posted December 27, 2007)
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Sonja Evensen, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) Program Specialist and Vice President of the Hawai‘i-Pacific Evaluation Association (H-PEA), has announced the 2nd annual H-PEA conference, to be held at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel on September 6th and 7th, 2007.
H-PEA is the official local affiliate of the American Evaluation Association, and according to its Web release, “conference highlights include panel presentations by internationally renowned evaluators and researchers in the Pacific region, poster presentations of local evaluation work, thematic conversation tables, and the election of association officers.”
A preconference workshop presented on September 6th by Christina Christie and Stewart Donaldson, “Practical Program Evaluation: A Program Theory Approach,” will focus on “how to design practical and cost-effective evaluations.”
Friday’s keynote speaker and PREL Director of Research Roger Chesswas will share with conference participants his address, “In God We Trust. All Others Must Have Data,” in which he will share his perspectives on “evaluation methods and approaches that help us get the facts right and make things better for beneficiaries.”
Also Friday on afternoon, PREL Director of Planning Ormond Hammond will facilitate a panel featuring internationally recognized experts Christina Christie, Lois-ellin Datta, and Stewart Donaldson. In what promises to be an engaging discussion, the panel will share their current work on improving the credibility and value of evaluation.
Adding to the knowledge sharing of this dynamic conference, PREL staff, among others, will be offering poster presentations.
For additional information, please visit the conference website at: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~hpea/news/Hawaii-Pacific_Evaluation_Association_2007_Conference_and_Workshop.pdf
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Joining outstanding authors, speakers, and presenters at the 2007 Read To Me Conference at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on June 28–29, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) staff members will present several informative discussions. In addition, Jackie Burniske, Executive Director of PREL’s Center for Information, Communications, and Technology, serves on the planning committee for the conference, and PREL will have a booth there.
Kavita Rao, Curriculum Design Specialist; Miki Cachola-Solomon, Program Specialist; and Sonja Evensen, Evaluation Specialist, will speak on “Mo‘olelo from Ho‘oikaika Kino: Stories Designed to Start Conversations with Youth.” The PREL team will demonstrate the use of the Web-based and printed materials to conference participants where they will learn how the Ho‘oikaika Kino curriculum incorporates local themes and literacy strategies with content on emotional literacy, communication, and decision making skills.
Senior Specialist Jennifer Padua will present “Author Studies: Promoting Language Learning and Technology.” Ms. Padua will provide a wealth of opportunities for children to enjoy quality literature and develop their language skills. Using the works of Robert Munsch and Chris van Allsburg, participants will learn how to integrate print literacy, oral literacy, and computer literacy to enhance their children’s language skills.
In his role as President of the Micronesian Community Network, Canisius Filibert will lead a panel of members from the communities of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and the Marshall Islands in “A Graphic Representation of Micronesia” accompanied by a Q & A panel discussion. Participants will learn about one of Hawai‘i’s newest and fastest-growing nonimmigrant populations—Micronesians. They will journey through the islands of Micronesia and learn more about how to work successfully with the Micronesian population by listening and asking questions of this panel made up of members from the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i.
As PREL Program Director/Specialist, Mr. Filibert will speak on “Effective Strategies and Resources for Teaching Micronesian Students.” Participants in this session will learn to identify and understand cultural barriers to Micronesian students’ learning, practice and apply at least one instructional strategy that is effective in teaching Micronesian English learners (ELs), and access other useful resources that can be utilized in teaching ELs.
Finally, as a PREL Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) trainer, Mr. Filibert will help participants learn how the use of Sheltered Instruction as an instructional framework can increase student achievement of ELs in his talk on “Research-Based Sheltered Instruction Strategies for English Language Learners.” Sheltered Instruction components include lesson preparation, building background, comprehensive input, strategies, interaction, lesson delivery, practice/application, and review/assessment.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Hilda Heine, EdD, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) Director of Policy and the Pacific Comprehensive Center, will speak at this year’s annual Pacific Global Health Conference. Held at the University of Hawai‘i’s Hawai‘i Imin International Conference Center at the East-West Center June 19–21, 2007, and presented by the Hawai‘i Public Health Association, the conference will cover topics such as “The Preparation and Use of Community Outreach Workers for the Delivery of Preventive Health Services in Yap, FSM,” “Environmental Health Training and Workforce Development in Palau,” “Navigating Towards Improving the Health and Well-Being of native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Communities,” and many more.
A plenary session on workforce training and development will take place on Monday, June 19, 2007, from 9:00 a.m to 10:30 a.m. Dr. Heine will join two other prestigious panel members: Dr. Juliet Fleischle, Technical Officer in Human Resources and Health Systems, World Health Organization (WHO);and Dr. Greg Dever, Director, Bureau of Hospital and Clinical Services, Republic of Palau Ministry of Health, and Director, Palau Area Health Education Center.
Dr. Heine will discuss findings that increasing reliance on external aid by the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has created a system of education that is not sustainable, nor practical and strategic. Furthermore, the way that aid is channeled to the RMI limits the ability of local people and governments to influence aid in ways that would maximize the benefits for the country.
These findings are from a recent study on external education aid in the RMI, by Dr. Heine and Emi Chutaro. In her talk, “The Impact of External Aid on Education in the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” Dr. Heine will look at both the benefits and negative effects of external aid on education.
PREL is also participating in the conference with an exhibit table displaying various PREL products and promotional materials.
For additional information, please visit the Hawai‘i Public Health Association Conference website at: http://www.hawaiipublichealth.org/.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
PREL’s 2006 Annual Report to its Board of Directors is available for viewing and/or download.
Visit: http://www.prel.org/products/pr_/AR06/financials_2006.pdf
2007 Research Into Practice
Available for viewing and/or download only, this 77-page volume of PREL's annual research compendium brings together articles detailing research conducted recently by PREL and our partners. The articles focus on putting research findings to work to improve education.
Visit: www.prel.org/products/pr_/compendium07/tableofcontents.asp
(Posted December 27, 2007)
She grew up in the rural O‘ahu North Shore community of Hau‘ula, and, she says, “I never dreamed I would have the honor and privilege of receiving a scholarship under the auspices of one of my greatest heroes, Nainoa Thompson.” Linda Furuto recently realized a dream she did not even know she could have: she was named APLP’s Second Nainoa Thompson Scholar.
From building a model of the Hokule‘a out of popsicle sticks and brown paper bags in her kindergarten class, Linda continued her journey with Nainoa and the Hokule‘a into her junior high and high school years, learning about physical science, astronomy, and biology. Her award-winning 8th grade science project on “Lessons from the Hokule‘a: Measurement of Stars, Wind, and Swells” for the Windward District Science Fair seemed to be a strong confirmation that her journey with the Hokule‘a and the Polynesian Voyaging Society would be a long and rewarding one.
Another PREL intern’s dreams were realized when Pauline Yourupi, from Chuuk, was invited to sail to Micronesia aboard the Hokule‘a with Nainoa Thompson as part of the APLP’s “Hokule‘a Voyage Education Project.”
Justin Liang of the APLP notes, ”Bringing new meaning to the words ‘navigating change,’ the project serves as a vehicle for positive change by bringing an educational program about Polynesian culture, Hawaiian voyage traditions, and environmental stewardship and sustainability to youth overseas.”
Sailing aboard the Hokule‘a with Nainoa Thompson and the Hokule‘a crew on the voyage from Hawai‘i to Micronesia and than on to Japan were a select group of APLP representatives, including Pauline (who sailed to her home on the Micronesian island of Chuuk). APLP’s Justin Liang continues, “The first part of the program involved educating youth about Hawaiian history and culture: the historical struggles of the Hawaiian people, for example, and the long-standing voyaging tradition of the Polynesians. The second component of the program looks at the core values that deep-sea navigation and the stories of the Hokule‘a reveal about identity, cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and sustainability.”
PREL is most proud to have had Linda and Pauline as interns. We look forward to a continuing relationship and wish them great success.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
American Samoa has been chosen to host the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in 2008. Occurring once every 4 years, this event features 10 solid days of Pacific culture and arts, with Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia being represented.
For additional information, visit the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts website at: http://www.festival-pacific-arts.org/, where updated information will be made available. Click on the “Talofa | Bonjour” link toward the bottom of the home page.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Hosted by the Hawai‘i Association for Asian and Pacific American Education and cosponsored by the National Education Association Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus, this year’s 29th Annual NAAPAE Conference will be held at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel April 20–21, 2007, and is themed “Pacific Pathways: Engage, Educate, Enlighten.”
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning’s (PREL’s) Canisius Filibert was asked to be this year’s keynote speaker. He will be speaking about engaging, educating, and enlightening Micronesians as well as speaking to the other side of the coin—service providers who work with Micronesian clients—in addressing the question, “What are the Micronesian pathways that one should be aware of?”
PREL’s Kavita Rao will present “Classroom Resources and Strategies for Pacific Island English Language Learners.” This presentation provides an overview of resources and strategies developed by PREL for classroom teachers. Participants will learn about PREL's resources for early reading, culturally-based literacy strategies for English language learners, and technology activities for Pacific island students.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Parents and Children Together (PACT) recently awarded Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) a 5-year, $150,000 contract as the external evaluator for the Hawai`i Parental Information and Resource Center (HPIRC).
HPIRC will be implemented in 21 public schools across the state of Hawai`i. The program will be implemented through five community-based nonprofit family centers that cooperate with PACT to implement the parent information centers on their islands. As external evaluators, PREL’s Chuck Giuli and his team will focus their evaluation effort on outcomes for target objectives of the program.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Hilda Heine, EdD, presented a seminar titled “The Impact of External Aid on Education in the Republic of the Marshall Islands” at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) East-West Center’s Center for Pacific Islands Studies on February 7, 2007. Dr. Heine is Pacific Resources for Education and Learning’s (PREL’s) Director of Policy and the Pacific Comprehensive Center.
Dr. Heine spoke about a recent study on external educational aid in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) that she conducted with Emi Chutaro. The study found that the increasing reliance on external aid by the RMI has created a system of education that is not sustainable, nor practical and strategic. Furthermore, the way that aid is channeled to the RMI limits the ability of local people and governments to influence aid in ways that would maximize the benefits for the country. In her talk, Dr. Heine looked at both the benefits and negative effects of external aid on education.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
“E Ho‘i I Ka Piko Aloha”—“Return to Cultural Honor and Caring”—is the focus of the Native Hawaiian Education Association’s (NHEA’s) 8th annual convention, to be held on the grounds of Chaminade University of Honolulu March 27 and 28, 2007.
Staff of Na Hoa Ho‘ola (Partners Who Work to Bring Health), Pacific Resources for Education and Learning’s (PREL’s) Native Hawaiian Safe and Drug-Free Schools program, will present a workshop titled: “Ho‘oikaika Kino—Integrating Prevention Messages and Literacy.” Participants will learn about a locally produced substance abuse and violence prevention curriculum for grades 4–6. Ho‘oikaika Kino begins with five mo‘olelo about local students at the imaginary Kawaiola Elementary School. The stories are designed to help students better understand things that can help keep them safe and drug-free (e.g., supportive families and friends, positive interests or hobbies, or having plans for their future).
The Na Hoa Ho‘ola team will share a variety of print and multimedia resources designed to support the use of the curriculum.
To learn more about Na Hoa Ho‘ola, visit here
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) is proud to announce the appointment of Evelyn Joseph as Director of PREL’s Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Rodrigo Mauricio as Director of PREL’s PIRC in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap).
Both Ms. Joseph and Mr. Mauricio are long-time PREL staff members. Ms. Joseph will be based in Majuro, RMI, and Mr. Mauricio will be based in Pohnpei, FSM.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning’s (PREL’s) Jump Into Reading for Meaning (JUMP) Director Javier Elizondo and Instructional Designer Meagan Rothschild are to present at this year’s Hawai‘i Department of Education e-School Conference 2007 on February 22 and 23 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
This year’s conference focus is Education: 21st Century Learners and brings together technology-related professionals from both the education and business/industry sectors to speak about and share knowledge in the field of technology in education.
Elizondo and Rothschild will present a session titled “Learning Through Video Games: Engaging Students with Market Media.”
Following is a summary of the presentation:
There’s no arguing the point that video games have captured the hearts and minds of students across gender, culture, and scholastic aptitude. The games don’t discriminate—they are available to be played by anyone willing to put forth the time and effort required of the challenges. Why is it that young players are willing to commit to the complex patterns and learning goals of a video game? Beyond this, is it possible for educators to capitalize on this ever growing market to help students meet academic goals? The audience will learn how fundamentals of gaming can be applied to classroom practices and how video games themselves can be used to enhance standard curricula.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
Jackie Burniske, the Executive Director of the Center for Information, Communications, and Technology (CICT) at PREL was an invited presenter at the 2006 Aboriginal National Conference in Vancouver, Canada, held November 28–29, 2006. The theme was Canada's Virtual Schools and E-Learning: The Challenges and Opportunities. Ms. Burniske's two presentations were entitled: Virtual Schooling for Indigenous Peoples as an Alternative Model and How to Manage Remoteness and Distance and Serve Multiple Culture Groups. Educators from across Canada, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland, especially those involved in indigenous education, attended the conference.
(Posted December 27, 2007)
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