HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Education Association is hosting its annual summit next week in an effort to address the teacher shortage in Hawaii.

The local nonprofit is working to tap high school students to address the state’s ongoing shortage of full-time licensed teachers.

HEA’s “Building the Future of Education in Hawaii: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Teachers and Empowering Today’s Educators” Summit takes place on Jan. 8 at the YWCA Downtown Honolulu from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will focus on teacher recruitment and retention.

Hawaii ranks in the top 10 states with the lowest teacher-to-state population ratio.

Low pay compared to other professions, high workloads, and a lack of professional development and support have been cited as reasons for a nationwide shortage of teachers.

HEA Program Manager Dr. Lynn Hammonds and Dr. Carla Warren, Senior Partner of the National Center for Grow Your Own, said there aresolutions being used in other states that Hawaii can adopt, including building a pipeline for high school students and apprenticeships for young teachers to cultivate the next generation of educators.

Hammonds said HEA was the first organization for Hawaii teachers — the precursor of HSTA, HGEA, and UHPA — and now focuses on supporting teachers and aspiring teachers.

“Our summit will gather education leaders from across the state, including 11 high school teachers who work directly with students aspiring to become educators. Our event features two expert panels that will share insights and strategies to ensure these future educators receive the necessary guidance, successfully complete college preparation programs, and achieve licensure as teachers in Hawaii,” Hammonds said.

As the summit’s keynote speaker, Warren will share her experience developing West Virginia’s Teacher Leader Framework to assist county school systems and securing Department of Labor funds to develop a teacher pre-apprenticeship program, the first in the country.

Other Hawaii agencies, including the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Education, and the Hawaii Teachers Standard Board, are establishing an apprenticeship program in Hawaii with a federal grant.

“The U.S. Department of Labor has developed a new apprenticeship program that opens the door to new opportunities for individuals to become K-12 teachers. Individuals can complete a bachelor’s degree and obtain teacher licensure at no cost while continuing to work in their jobs as paraprofessionals. This has been a great way to recruit new teachers,” Warren said.

Hammonds said HEA is supporting teachers from eight local high schools in Project Equal Access and piloting Educators Rising, a nationally recognized curriculum for high school students who are aspiring educators. The high schools include Farrington, James Campbell, Kauai, Maui, Mililani, Pearl City, Waiakea, and Waipahu.

For more information on the Hawaii Education Association, visit hawaiieducationassocation.org or call (808) 949-6657.

Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.