Preschool Educators Hold Unique Retreat

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Ching

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Last weekend, early childhood educators on Molokai took to Pu’u O Hoku Ranch for two days of professional development and networking amongst activities like hiking and coconut basket weaving. Organized by Na Kamali’i Hoaloha preschool, the retreat fulfilled licensure requirements as well as offered a much needed end-of-year respite for educators – especially as worries around federal funding for some programs have mounted in the past weeks.

Sarah Ching, director of Na Kamali’i, explained that the retreat was an exceptional experience for Molokai’s early childhood educators.

“This is the first time something like this has happened for our island,” she said.

Typically, educators have to fly off-island to participate in the many hours of professional development needed to maintain their license, explained Ching. But due to the chronic issues with Molokai’s air transportation, Ching decided to flip the process and bring a professional development trainer to Molokai.

After successfully petitioning private organizations like the Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund and the Stupski Foundation for grants, Ching was able to invite 16 early childhood educators from six Molokai institutions like Tutu and Me, Kaunakakai School, Kilohana School, Head Start and more.

“We wanted to give back to people in our field while also getting professional development training that we have to have for our licensing,” said Ching.

Ching explained that early childhood educators, who focus on ages 0 to 5, sometimes feel their work goes unappreciated and unnoticed. For Ching, the label of “glorified babysitter” is too often applied. From social and emotional skills to navigating new challenges, preschool sets the foundation for a child’s journey in education, explained Ching.

“This [work] is so important and we should be investing more into early childhood,” she said.

The early childhood educators’ retreat came at a critical junction for Head Start preschools nationwide. The Head Start program, which offers free preschool for 20 under-resourced Molokai families, over 300 families countywide and 800,000 nationwide, has come under increased scrutiny from the Trump administration.

According to Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) CEO Debbie Cabebe, there is a “real and dangerous” threat to the early childhood education program. For Maui County, MEO runs the Head Start program.

“When the president set up the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there was talk of Head Start being removed from the budget,” said Cabebe.

And while Head Start has not been officially taken out of the federal budget, Cabebe explained that Head Start is also still not listed as a program to be funded – leaving the critical program in limbo.

“There’s just not clear direction,” Cabebe said. “Nobody will give us a clear answer.”

The MEO Head Start program, which has been around since 1965, is 80 percent federally funded and 20 percent Maui County funded, according to Cabebe. With new worries about the program’s future, Maui County has kicked in an extra $650,000 for Head Start. Even so, without federal money, MEO could still set up some Head Start preschool classes, but would have to do it without critical add-ons like breakfast and lunch.

Currently, MEO Head Start is awaiting news regarding their grant application for the next funding cycle. Their current funding cycle will end on May 30. Based on other Head Start programs statewide, Cabebe said that she expects to receive a short-term federal grant which would fund them through at least October.

“We’re anticipating a notice of award any day,” Cabebe said. “We’re optimistically hopeful.”

In response to the uncertainty, MEO has led families who use Head Start preschools to petition Congress to save the program. You can visit nhsa.org/take-action to encourage Congress to protect Head Start.