Shay Zykova
NAME Shay Zykova
AGE 28
TOWN/MOKU Waimānalo
ISLAND Oʻahu
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE @shayzyk
NOMINATED B Y Hannah Wilson
Leadership Category
Education
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
One in every six people in Hawaiʻi struggle with reading. That may sound like a crazy figure, but it’s just a fact from the National Center for Education Statistics. It’s also a statistic that many people in power or in privilege aren’t aware of because of rampant educational inequity. If you went to a private school, you probably never encountered someone who couldn’t read. However, after working as a teacher in multiple Title I schools, I have seen the issue first hand. Working to end educational inequity will need to take place on multiple areas, with first, an emphasis on improving working environments for our local teachers, retaining local teachers, and also recruiting local teachers. Literacy is the foundation of any learning - but it’s not something that can be fixed only in the classroom without addressing the systemic issues that have caused this failure to occur. My previous experience as a teacher in communities in Kalihi, Wai’anae, and now working with the local recruitment team at Teach for America Hawaiʻi has all culminated in the core understanding that education is a holistic experience, and needs multiple tiers of support in order to help our keiki succeed.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
More than 200 years ago, the Hawaiian Kingdom boasted a literacy rate of over 90% - nearly universality. Over the years, however, that number has dramatically fallen, nearly parallel to general education rates for Native Hawaiians. I believe that providing our lāhui with the ability to read and write will open doors to nearly any other opportunity that they want in their lives - and that starts with helping the education system in Hawai’i.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
I admire leaders who put in the work on the front lines. It’s easy to talk about education policy and what is best for keiki but it is different to actually being in the classroom and seeing things first hand. I will forever value and treasure my experiences as a teacher.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
Every teacher or former teacher will tell you that the absolutely best part of the job is working with the kids. They are the fuel and fire behind my work because they deserve the absolute best. In particular, I am moved by one firecracker. Now a 16-year-old, he was the loudest kid on campus. He is thriving and moving closer to graduation every year and his success makes me feel so proud. I only wish that every child could see the same growth as he did.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
This year has been one of the most challenging years in Education, but it is also one that is exciting. I feel as if we are reaching a precipice for change that will come with a reckoning. Clearly, many of our old practices are not working and it is time for some radical change. It is exciting to be a part of that process as we work towards recruiting more local and kanaka maoli teachers for the cause.
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
Connection.