Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke congratulates Milken winner Kristy Inamasu, a Maui High graduate who teaches kindergarten at Kalihi Uka Elementary School and was recently honored with the Milken Educator Award. Photo courtesy Milken Educator Awards

A Maui High School graduate has become the recipient of a prestigious Milken Educator Award in teaching, providing her $25,000 and other benefits.

Kristy Inamasu received the award and congratulations from Milken Awards officials along with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Superintendent of Education Keith Hayashi at an assembly Tuesday at Kalihi Uka Elementary on Oahu where Inamasu teaches kindergarten. The assembly also celebrated the school’s rising test scores and academic growth.

“Kristy’s enthusiasm to make a daily, tangible impact in her classroom and school is commendable … nurturing and inspiring the minds of her young students and fellow educators across the Aloha State,” Milken Awards executive Jane Foley said.

According to Inamasu, her biggest role models are her parents, Rose and Larry Inamasu of Kahului.

“They have instilled in me the values of hard work, commitment, dedication and service to others,” said Inamasu, who graduated in 2008 and played volleyball in high school.

“They have sacrificed and provided our family with so much growing up and continue that to this day without ever asking for anything in return,” she added.

Inamasu said others have also made a positive impact on her, including the teachers and staff at Kahului School, Maui Waena Intermediate and Maui High, as well as her volleyball coaches and kumu hula.

Kalihi Uka principal Derek Santos said Inamasu, who has taught for 10 years at the school, is a valued member of the school community.

“She puts relationships first and makes sure kindergarteners feel welcomed and valued in her classroom,” Santos said.

Santos said students at the school are tested three times a year to look at their growth and strengths, and her students have consistently done well on tests because of the quality of her teaching.

Inamasu holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in teaching from Chaminade. She initially joined Kalihi Uka as a part-time teacher and has since served as the school’s primary school adjustment program coordinator providing English as a second language support.

Milken Award officials said Inamasu is a steady presence in her students’ lives and mentors her colleagues when they need a helping hand in their classrooms.

“Her leadership at the school is exemplified through her varied roles as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and School Community Council, a volunteer volleyball coach, and a presenter to colleagues in the district on Learning Intentions and Success Criteria for young students,” Milken Award officials said. “Her classroom serves as a destination for training and observation by new and veteran teachers, administrators and student teachers throughout the school complex and state who are eager to learn new ways of teaching that encourage a love of learning.”

The $25,000 cash award is unrestricted.

Milken Award officials said recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children or on their own continuing education. Others have financed dream field trips, established scholarships and even adopted children.

The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards forum in Los Angeles in April, where they will network with other educators about how to broaden their impact in classrooms from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Inamasu said she was drawn to working with children at a young age and enjoyed taking care of the younger ones at family gatherings. Her family has others who have chosen the teaching profession. Her brother Jordan teaches at Castle High School and her sister Chante at Kapunahala Elementary.

Inamasu’s grandfather, Leopoldo Cortez, was a teacher at Juan Nolasco High School and also at Christ the King in Manila. For Inamasu, teaching kindergarten is “extremely important.”

“This might be the first experience of school for students,” she said. “It’s so important to get students excited about learning to fuel their curiosity…to interact among themselves.”