A welcome reception in early July warmly welcomed 57 teachers from the Philippines, Kenya, and Ghana as they began their teaching assignments in Hawaii’s public schools. More teachers are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
The welcome reception, organized by the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE), brought together education officials, visa sponsor representatives, Filipino American organizations, and community members to welcome the teachers.
According to HIDOE, this year will see a total of 237 international teachers, including up to 175 from the Philippines, joining the approximately 365 current J-1 teachers serving in classrooms across the state this year.
Speaking on behalf of the Consulate, Deputy Consul General Pamela Durian-Bailon welcomed and congratulated the teachers as they embarked on this new chapter in their professional journey and thanked them for serving not only as educators but also as ambassadors of Filipino excellence, values, and culture.
She introduced the Consulate’s services, including passport, notarial, civil registration, and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) services.
She also highlighted the Consulate’s regular consular outreach missions across the Hawaiian islands and offered to connect the teachers with Filipino community organizations in their respective areas of assignment to help build a strong sense of community during their stay.
Consulate personnel also engaged in talk stories with the new teachers, answered their questions, and distributed the Consulate’s contact information flyers.
The Philippine Consulate General wishes the Filipino educators a meaningful and rewarding teaching experience as they contribute to Hawaii’s classrooms while continuing the long tradition of excellence for which Filipino teachers are widely respected.
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