Show Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program for Educators

As we dive into a new semester, Kupu and Mālama Learning Center are excited to announce the start of the Spring Semester’s Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program! Aʻo ʻĀina uses a work-based learning approach to enhance teachers’ knowledge of different natural resource careers and topics, with each educator’s journey (~40 hours of programming) individually curated to expand on their interests and help fill their knowledge gaps. Upon successful completion of the program, participants are awarded an ʻĀina-based Education Certificate. 
 
Aʻo ʻĀina seeks to accomplish five main goals: 
 

• Expose teachers to different careers in natural resources so they are more informed and prepared to educate and excite their students about the range of natural resource careers that exist in Hawaiʻi
• Build connections between teachers and community partners to support future learning opportunities for students
• Increase teacher knowledge of natural resource topics and issues that can be integrated into their classroom curricula
• Develop publicly available lesson plans that increase student knowledge of natural resource careers 
• Provide educators with an opportunity to receive an ʻĀina-Based Education Certification (ABEC)

Eligible participants include K-12 educators, counselors, administrators, and support staff involved with education based on Oʻahu. 
We hope to open the program back up to other islands in the future. 
 
Aʻo ʻĀina is designed to be dynamic and individualized, including both online and in-person components. All online program requirements will either be asynchronous or scheduled based on your feedback. Additionally, there will be many opportunities over Spring Break, weekends, and holidays across five months (January through May) to attend any in-person requirements (e.g., 12 hours of externships). You do not need to be a science teacher to participate in this program! Conservation and education are for everyone, including you! 
 
For additional details about Aʻo ʻĀina, please check out our website here. If you are interested in applying to join the Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program, APPLY HERE as soon as possible.  
 
Deadline to apply is Friday, December 20th. Apply now, space is limited!   
 
Please share this opportunity with any additional teachers, counselors, administrators, or other support staff at your school who you think would benefit from participating in this program. 
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Aubtin Rouhbakhsh (aubtin.rouhbakhsh@kupuhawaii.org).