Last school year teachers had been laid off due to budget cuts, causing schools to need new teachers to fill in the positions. This school year, Kealakekua Moa was hired as our school’s new World History teacher for sophomores. Throughout the school year many have enjoyed having him here, some even creating a bond with him. While we are still unsure of his return for next school year, it is better to think of it as a “see you later” rather than a “goodbye.”
With Mr. Moa leaving there are many students who have mixed feelings. As well as Mr. Moa feeling great sadness for having to leave due to his one-year contract. It is important we hear both the students’ and the teachers' feelings on this situation.
How some students feel
With Mr. Moa leaving there are some students who have expressed some sadness along with some hope that he will return next year. Although we are not sure if he will come back or not, we can still look back at this year and share our memories.
Sophomore Andy Anay shares their first impression of Mr. Moa.
“My first impression of Moa was he was chill and upbeat, he seemed to be what stuck out to me was his interests as I had a lot of the same ones allowing me to immediately connect with him,” Anay said.
Many students felt common views of Mr. Moa being a teacher who is chill and outgoing. Some who were able to connect with him instantly. However, others felt he was going to be strict, but that perception quickly changed after spending time in his class.
Sophomore Melany Ramos expresses how she felt when she first got to know Mr. Moa.
“At first I thought he was going to be very strict but that completely changed the first week of classes as he was very involved with each student's needs and emotions while still being a teacher,” Ramos said.
Throughout the school year there have been some students who created a close relationship with him, and enjoyed having him as a teacher here. Many feel a bit of sadness on him leaving and believe he should be the official World History teacher here at MCHS.
Ramos shares their opinion on whether or not Mr. Moa should be the official World History Teacher here at MCHS.
“Yes, I one hundred percent agree that Mr. Moa should be an official teacher. Not only does he have students wanting to learn but he's also just a caring teacher like none other,” Ramos said.
With Mr. Moa’s one year contract coming to an end, many feel he should have been hired as an official teacher, not just as a temporary one. There are students who have created a special bond and see him more than just a teacher, but also as someone they are able to confide in.
Sophomore, Genevieve Rodriguez, expresses her thoughts on Moa and how he is as a teacher.
“Moa is the first teacher I’ve ever seen to be as close and helpful to students,” Rodriguez said.
While there are students who solely see him as our World History teacher, others view him as a guidance. They have felt as if they were able to find a teacher who not only teaches, but is also there for his students and truly cares about them and their voices being heard.
What does Mr. Moa have to say?
As the school year wraps up, Mr. Moa shared some of his insights of his first year here at MCHS.
Mr. Moa shares their first impression on MCHS and what it currently is.
“My first impression of Middle College was a very niche group of students and I felt like you guys were AP kids without the AP title. Now that I have been here my first impression was very similar except that a much higher performing body than I anticipated,” Moa said.
Mr. Moa seems to feel that MCHS has a high performing student body. As there are many aspects of MCHS in which make him enjoy teaching here.
Mr. Moa expresses what he likes and dislikes about MCHS.
“The thing I liked the most was just the community, the student community was really awesome, so was the staff, everyone was very welcoming … I guess how intelligent the student body is but how lazy they can be,” Moa said.
Mr. Moa expressed his satisfaction of the community that has been built here at Middle College, and having him feel welcomed although he acknowledges there are many intelligent students he knows can be lazy sometimes. While talking about his time here, he has also shared how he has felt about leaving soon.
Mr. Moa shares his emotions about leaving and what he'll miss.
“Yeah, I am very sad that I’m leaving. It's very sad, I felt like this could definitely be home. The thing I am going to miss the most is what I enjoyed the most, the community, the students, the staff,” Moa said.
My opinion
Throughout the school year I have grown close to Mr. Moa as well, he had always felt more than a teacher to me. He has always been caring towards his students and wanted the best for them.
Anytime I was feeling down or was too quiet, Mr. Moa noticed, which is one thing I like about him. It felt like he truly cared about his students and wasn't just doing it because it was his job.
Likewise, I feel great sadness that he is leaving. I had hoped he would be a permanent teacher here like the other new hires. However, I’m really grateful to have been his student this year.
I shared lots of laughs between him and my friends, which is a memory I will always keep with me. I hope Mr. Moa is given the chance to come back and teach the next group of sophomores, so that they are also able to experience his class.
Summary
Mr. Moa has had a great year here at MCHS and hopes to be able to come back next year. While that is still undecided, many of us hope he does come back and becomes a permanent teacher here.
Although most of us would like it to not be a goodbye, we can think of it as a “see you later Moa”. However, this year has been filled with great memories for both Mr. Moa and his students.
“Just thank you for a great year, I hope I see everyone again,” Moa said.
