Hawai‘i Education Association awards scholarships to 2 Hawai‘i Island educators

Hawai‘i Education Association recently awarded $1,000 Hawai‘i Education Association Ronald K. Toma Scholarships for Professional Learning — which supports teachers of grades PK through 12 and administrators pursuing professional learning opportunities — to two Hawai‘i Island educators.

Joy Paul of Kailua-Kona is a dedicated third-grade teacher at Hōlualoa Elementary School and passionate about helping all students become confident, successful readers.

With more than a decade of teaching experience and strong background in literacy instruction, she continually seeks opportunities to strengthen her practice and better serve students with diverse learning needs.

The scholarship will help fund the Institute of Multi-Sensory Education Dyslexia Specialist Practicum and certification exam, allowing Paul to earn a structured literacy dyslexia specialist credential and expand her expertise in evidence-based reading instruction and interventions.

Her work directly supports school goals focused on improving literacy achievement and ensuring students receive timely, effective support. Paul already saw positive results through her practicum experience and is committed to applying these strategies to help more students overcome reading challenges.

She is a leader within her school community, also serving in several educator leadership roles, and looks forward to sharing her knowledge with colleagues to strengthen literacy instruction and student outcomes throughout her school.

Nolan Yamaki of Hilo is a veteran educator at Ernest Bowen deSilva Elementary School in Hilo, where he is dedicated to teaching and supporting student achievement.

With more than 25 years of experience in education and advanced degrees in elementary education and reading instruction from University of Northern Colorado, he is committed to continuously refining his craft to meet the evolving needs of students.

Yamaki’s scholarship will help cover tuition, airfare, lodging and transportation to attend Hawaiʻi Writing Project’s Advanced Invitational Summer Institute and Young Writers Camp, where he will strengthen his expertise in writing instruction.

Recognizing writing is a key focus area for his school, he is striving to help students develop the skills needed to communicate effectively and think critically.

He is an active community leader and mentor beyond the classroom. Yamaki looks forward to sharing new strategies and insights with fellow educators, helping advance teaching and learning throughout his school community.

Hawai‘i Educational Association was founded more than 100 years ago to support the education profession.

The nonprofit awarded a total of $26,500 in scholarships to date this year to 20 people at various stages of their teaching careers, from high school graduates just entering college to experienced educators pursuing additional education to broaden their capabilities.