When students walk into Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School (KMS), they are expected to uphold its 3Rs: respect, responsibility and resiliency. With teacher leaders like Jade Pham, these middle schoolers have role models who personify these characteristics every day. Pham’s role as TA vice principal and student services coordinator is not only a vocation, but also is spurred by a volition to pay it forward to the community that raised her. Born in Vietnam, Pham immigrated to Hawaii with her family as a young girl. She completed her schooling in the Kaimuki complex area, working her way through Kaimuki High School and graduating from college in Oregon before returning to Kaimuki High to begin her career as a special education and general education teacher.
She moved to KMS in 2021, teaching special education and social studies before stepping into her coordinator position in 2022-23. Now she provides direct support to the classrooms to ensure a high-quality educational opportunity for all students – coordinating targeted interventions and school-level collaborative processes to improve students’ academic and personal growth. Leading implementation of the Hawaii Multi-Tiered System of Supports (HMTSS), Pham engages fellow faculty in data-based problem-solving and inquiry-based learning; project-based learning; Socratic Seminars; computer science integration; assessment strategies, social-emotional learning and meeting the needs of special education students and students with disabilities. Thanks in part to her advocacy, the proportion of special education students moving into the general education classrooms has increased significantly.
Always one to go the extra mile, it is not unusual for Pham to be seen providing students with one-on-one instruction outside of the classroom, even initiating home visits when needed. Beyond the curriculum, Pham inspires students to become “life-ready” by incorporating college and career exploration opportunities into her work, even taking a group of 35 students to Japan. Both novice and experienced KMS teachers seek her out guidance, and Pham regularly communicates with parents about how to effectively advocate for their students.
Pham’s other leadership roles include school leadership committee member, special education department facilitator, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) assessment focus group chair. She also works with her graduate school alma mater, the University of Hawaii, on its special education teacher education committee, and advises KMS’ award-winning esports club.
Pham graduated from Corban University with a Bachelor of Science in political science in 2017 and completed her Master of Education in Teaching in 2019 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Press release: Surprise! Honolulu Teacher Leader Jade Pham Receives National Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash Prize
