Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai is dedicated to helping Kauai’s aspiring student teachers who are in need of financial assistance to complete their education.  We all know that Kauai is facing a major shortage of teachers and it is our goal to help reverse that situation.

We assist both elementary and secondary grade-level teachers in their student-teaching semester. If you are a teacher candidate, receiving financial aid, and entering your final (student teaching) semester, please review the requirements below, prepare and collect the necessary documents, fill in the application, and upload your documents. If you prefer, you can download the appropriate application from the link below.  

Please NOTE: We are not affiliated with the Hawaii DOE Grow Our Own (GOO) teacher assistance program. Please click on their Hawaii DOE link to get information about their program.

Application Requirements

Deadlines

We accept applications twice a year. A student teacher must be entering their final student teaching semester in order to apply. 

Fall Deadline: If you are completing your final semester in the Fall, you must have your completed application to us by June 30 at 4pm HST. 

Spring Deadline: If you are completing your final semester in the Spring, you must have your completed application to us by November 30 at 4pm HST the year prior.  

Supporting Documentation

You must write a personal essay, as described below and provide two letters of recommendation from current program teachers and/or advisors. Please submit you supporting documentation with your application. Submitting documents separately may delay your determination of eligibility.  

Your Essay

Write a three-page maximum, double-spaced, typed essay with one-inch margins. Please include the following information in a narrative format:

1. Statement of Need, including the following —

• why you need financial assistance for your student teaching semester.
• whether you have received financial aid before.
• how you have been funding your education to this point.

2. Details about yourself, your interests, your family, and your accomplishments.

3. Volunteer activities you have been involved with, such as helping at your church, beach clean-up, KORE, etc.

4. Why you want to become a teacher.

Keep your essay brief and to the point. Missing information may delay your eligibility determination or cause your application to be denied.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit two letters of recommendation from teachers, principals, or other educators you have worked with during your teaching credential program who can attest to your predicted success in becoming an excellent classroom teacher. The Reference Form (link below) may be used in lieu of letters. 

Certification of Intent to Teach on Kauai

By submitting your application and supporting documentation, you certify that you plan to become a teacher on Kauai and pledge to teach here for a minimum of three years after you graduate. If, for some reason, you do not fulfill your three years of teaching for the Growing Our Own Teachers Student Teaching Grant, you will, in good faith, return the financial assistance money for a future Kauai teacher candidate to use. 

Upload your essay and letters of recommendation in the online application (recommended), scan and email them (please include your name in the subject line), or mail them to the following address: Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai, P.O. Box 1117, Kalaheo, HI 96741. 

Online Application

*Please have all your supporting documentation ready to upload when you fill out this application. This application cannot be saved online. Once submitted, you cannot access it again.* 

Name *

First

Middle

Last

Home Address

Home Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

--- Select state ---AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingState

Zip Code

Mailing Address (if different from home address)

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

--- Select state ---AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingState

Zip Code

Mobile Phone

Home Phone

Personal Email *

Please do not use your school or work email address.

How long have you lived on Kauai? *

Are you registered/eligible for FAFSA? *

• Yes
• No

Education

What Teacher Candidate Program are you enrolled in? *

What grade level do you plan to teach? *

• Pre-School
• Elementary (K thru 5)
• Secondary School (6 thru 12)
• Special Ed Component

Current GPA *

What school semester/year do you plan to student teach? *

What school semester/year do you plan to graduate? *

Application Requirements

Your Essay

Write a three-page maximum, double-spaced, typed essay with one-inch margins. Please include the following information in a narrative format:
1. Statement of Need, including the following --
   a. why you need financial assistance for your student teaching semester.
   b. whether you have received financial aid before.
   c. how you have been funding your education to this point.
2. Details about yourself, your interests, your family, and your accomplishments.
3. Volunteer activities you have been involved with, such as helping at church, beach clean-up, etc.
4. Why you want to become a teacher. Keep your essay brief and to the point. Missing information may exclude you from receiving scholarship funds.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit two letters of recommendation from current program teachers, principals, or other educators who can attest to your predicted success in becoming an excellent classroom teacher. The Reference Form may be used instead of letters.

Certification of Intent to Teach on Kauai *

• By clicking the Submit button below, I certify that I plan to become a teacher on Kauai and pledge to teach here for a minimum of three years beginning the semester following my graduation. If for some reason, I do not fulfill my three years of teaching for the Growing Our Own Teachers Student Teaching Grant, I will in good faith return the financial assistance money for a future Kauai teacher candidate to use .

File Upload *

Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 6 files.

Please upload ALL required supporting documents. An incomplete application may delay the review process. **Note that you cannot save or re-access your application on this site.** Thank you!

GDPR Agreement *

• I consent to having this website store my submitted information so they can respond to my inquiry.

Submit

NOTE: If our online form is unavailable, please let us know immediately. Email us at webmaster@growingkauaiteachers.org.

Download the application from the link below, fill it out, scan it, and email it with your supporting documentation to applications@growingkauaiteachers.com. 

Reference Form (for Educators) – all grade levels

We will contact you to confirm receipt of your application and provide you with information on the next steps. Generally, we do one in-person interview (currently we use Zoom). We will discuss at our next board meeting after the interview and, then, notify you of our decision.

All applicants must understand they are obligated to teach in a school on Kauai for a minimum of 3 years after they graduate when they accept funds from Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai.  The point of our desire to help you is to grow and maintain a workforce of exceptional Kauai teachers at all grade levels.

We want to help you succeed! Our deadline for the Spring semester is November 30th of the preceding year. Our deadline for the Fall semester is June 30 of the same year.

Downloadable Application & Reference Form

If you prefer to print and email or mail your application and supporting documentation, please download the appropriate application from one of the following links:

Student Teacher Grant Application – all grade levels

Reference Form (for Educators) – all grade levels

Please scan and email the completed application and all supporting documentation to us at applications@growingkauaiteachers.org or mail it to us at P.O. Box 1117, Kalaheo, HI 96741.

If you have missed a deadline or you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at applications@growingkauaiteachers.org.

We look forward to receiving your application! We are here to help you complete your teaching credential program. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. 

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Important to remember: Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai funds only one student teaching semester for eligible students. If you have received a scholarship from our organization, you may not reapply.