Big Island high school math teacher receives national Milken Educator Award that comes with $25,000 reward

Many of the students, teachers and staff filling the gym bleachers Tuesday morning at Waiākea High School in Hilo were able to add up all the signs to figure out something special was about to happen.

The equation of a celebratory atmosphere that filled the gym, featuring hula and music performances by students, plus a lineup of local, state and other dignitaries, including Hawai‘i Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and state Superintendent of Education Keith Hayashi, provided the best — albeit ambiguous — clue to solve for why.

Some guesses floated around, with one person commenting to a colleague, “Guarantee, somebody is getting an award or something.” But with just a handful of people in attendance who knew the reason for the assembly, everyone else could only guess.

Rory Inouye sat in the front row of the bleachers on the gym’s north side, next to fellow teachers and among students, listening to officials speak during the assembly. The 35-year-old Waiākea High math teacher had no idea he would soon be the focus of everyone’s attention.

Inouye, a 2007 Waiākea High grad who has taught at his alma mater for the past 10 years and for 3 years before at Waiākea Intermediate School, is the first Big Island educator since 2007 and second Hawai‘i educator this year to receive a national Milken Educator Award.

Jade Pham, a vice principal and Student Services coordinator at Prince David Kawānanakoa Middle School in Honolulu, was awarded Monday. 

Not only does the award highlight and honor his commitment and dedication to his students, it also comes with a $25,000 reward that Inouye can use any way he chooses.

Educators do not apply for the award. They are recommended by colleagues.

“This is not a lifetime achievement award,” said Milken Family Foundation Chairman Lowell Milken, who presented the award to Inouye during Tuesday’s assembly in front of a roaring crowd. “It’s an award for a lifetime promise.”

Milken said it’s a sign that the foundation and Inouye’s fellow educators believe he has the potential to do even greater work in the future. He thanked Inouye for making teaching and education his work.

“Rory’s innovation in the classroom, coupled by his leadership and investment in the school at large, are making an indelible impact on students, colleagues and the community he proudly serves,” Milken said in a press release Tuesday afternoon. “We congratulate Rory and welcome him to the Milken Educator Network.”

Inouye had no idea. He didn’t even know he was nominated for the award. Like everyone else around him, he was left to wonder what Tuesday’s assembly was for as he listened to officials speak and watched events play out.

Principal Kelcy Koga, Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area Superintendent Esther Kanehailua and Hayashi shared their pride in the work being done at Waiākea High to ensure graduates find global success and boasted about the continued excellence shown and achievements made by students and teachers.

The message started to shift during comments by Milken. He said the United States doesn’t do enough to honor teachers, those men and women who are the single most important element in student learning.

That’s why in 1987 he created the Milken Educator Awards, hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching.” Educators in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are honored with the awards each year. The foundation has awarded nearly 3,000 educators throughout the nation throughout the past nearly 40 years.

Several past recipients, some from nearly 30 years ago, were among the dignitaries at Tuesday’s assembly.

Inouye doesn’t know how loud the cheers, screams and applause were that boomed through the gym Tuesday when the announcement was made. He was smiling and most definitely surprised when Milken said his name, but he went into shock.

He was still trying to wrap his head around what happened even after the festivities had calmed down.

“It was excitement, it was gratitude, because I wouldn’t be here without the people that have helped me, my co-workers, my administration and the students,” said Inouye, adding that to be recognized for what he does for his students warmed his heart.

He wasn’t the best at math while in high school, but as he learned more in college and got into it, along with being inspired by his parents who also were longtime educators on the Big Island, he decided to become a teacher and return to Waiākea High to help make math class a little different and help all students better grasp the subject.

“I do it all for you guys,” Inouye told students.

While it’s an amazing feeling to win the award, he said you don’t go into teaching to win awards. That’s never the goal. His is to guide students through building skills and tying them back to concepts — to really get the big picture and not be so scared of math — so they know how to use what they learn now in the future.

“I enjoy being the navigator and getting the kids to where they need to be,” Inouye said.

That’s his goal everyday he walks into his classroom and he knows his job isn’t finished just because he won an award. There’s still tons of work to do, including how to improve moving forward.

Luke congratulated Inouye and said people can always point back to one specific thing that made a significant difference in their life. It is often a teacher they remembers 20, 30 or even more years later. Inouye is one of those teachers.

Inouye, who received his bachelor’s degree in education in 2011 from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and his master’s degree in education in 2013 from UH-Hilo, brings enthusiasm to his classroom every day. It’s not uncommon to see full groups of students visiting during free time or lunch.

His help creating a safe space for students to think critically and collaboratively has contributed to notable increases in student proficiency on state assessments year after year.

Inouye tailors lessons and curriculum to match the diverse learning backgrounds, levels, styles and talents of his students and roots the interactive hub that his his classroom in higher-order thinking and problem-solving.

He not only ties what students are learning to real-world situations, he uses technology, including taking inspiration from compelling math podcasts, to help students understand math concepts in fun and engaging ways.

He is a faculty member of the Waiākea High School Freshman Academy, manages after-school tutoring and is a Homecoming advisor, among the other hats he wears outside his classroom. New and veteran teachers alike regularly come to him seeking advice and encouragement.

A former Waiākea High baseball player, he also later coached the school’s team to two Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I championships and two Hawai’i High School Athletic Association runner-up finishes in four seasons.

Hayashi called Inouye an exceptional teacher who makes learning a truly personal and engaging journey for his students. His firm belief in student-led learning allows his students to see the practical relevance of math in their daily lives.

“We are very lucky to have teachers like Rory who work hard to make learning fun and meaningful for students of all levels,” said Hayashi in the afternoon press release.

Inouye’s neck was so full of lei by the time he headed back to class Tuesday morning that at one point you could barely see his head. He and Milken called his parents on his cellphone after the assembly to give them the good news.

They were just as surprised and excited as him.

All his father could say was “What?!” each time Inouye paused during their conversation. At one point, he even asked if it was a joke. Milken assured him it was not. He congratulated his son before again exclaiming “What?!”

Plans for the $25,000 are still up in the air.

“We’ll have to check with my wife. She takes care of all our financials,” Inouye said, adding the couple are planning a trip soon, so some of the money will help with that. What’s left will be put to good use. “That’s a big lump sum of money and I know it’s definitely going to help.”