KEKAHA — Heroes are where you look for them. And yesterday, Kekaha School honored its own heroes, including kindergarten teacher Chelsie Ruiz, recipient of the Papa John’s Everyday Heroes program award. Deputy Superintendent Clayton Fujie presented Ruiz with a certificate,
KEKAHA — Heroes are where you look for them.
And yesterday, Kekaha School honored its own heroes, including kindergarten teacher Chelsie Ruiz, recipient of the Papa John’s Everyday Heroes program award.
Deputy Superintendent Clayton Fujie presented Ruiz with a certificate, a $1,000 award, and, in the absence of a Papa John’s location on Kaua‘i, a $100 Costco cash card to help throw a class party.
“What I do is all part of my job,” an emotional Ruiz said. “I don’t do this for this kind of recognition.”
Kekaha School had kept the recognition ceremony a secret from Ruiz, but she had a feeling something was up when she saw students and some of the faculty with lei.
Fujie said the Papa John’s award is presented to teachers who instill a love of learning in students, respond to student needs and support peers by sharing effective instructional practices, experiences and expertise to maximize student learning.
Fujie and Tiffany Frias, a resource teacher from the Office of the Superintendent’s Business-Education Partnership, were joined by newly appointed Kaua‘i Area Complex Superintendent Bill Arakaki in making the presentation.
The announcement triggered a surge from the auditorium as students, teachers and Ruiz’s family pushed forward with lei, hugs and kisses.
“I believe my school teachers have made such a positive impact on my life, and teaching the children of Hawai‘i has been my passion since I can remember,” Ruiz said.
Among those in the audience, Holly Camara beamed with pride.
“She was my student teacher way back when,” Camara, who is currently recuperating from an aneurysm, said despite the obstacles that handicapped part of her body.
“This is a really close-knit school,” Camara said. “After my aneurysm, the teachers have come forward and every day someone prepares meals for my family.”
Ruiz, who is entering her seventh year as a Kekaha School teacher, said, “More and more students are experiencing challenges in their daily lives. Therefore, I feel that children need to have a safe, comfortable environment to explore, discover and become lifelong learners.”
She said every child has the ability to learn and excel.
One nomination for Ruiz from a parent read, “She makes time of her own to make sure her kindergarten kids learn their … words, counting, recognition and sounds.”
Carol Shikada, former Kekaha School principal, said Ruiz’s students “have adopted her quiet, but effective manner, and have developed into competent and caring individual learners who capably circulate through challenging classroom centers while assisting and supporting other students.”
Shikada said Ruiz accepts every child as an individual and finds creative ways to take them from where they are to where they need to be.
“When a medically fragile student first entered her class, the other students were visibly afraid,” Shikada said. “But Mrs. Ruiz found ways to build acceptance and caring. Now, the student thrives among his peers.”
Shikada said the melding of personal and professional qualities makes Ruiz an “everyday hero.”
