Going the extra mile: Kapalama elementary teacher surprised with $1K classroom grant

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – An Oahu elementary school teacher was rewarded for going the extra mile Tuesday, receiving a surprise $1,000 grant for classroom supplies.

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Hiipoi Lee, a third-grade teacher and grade-level chair at Kapalama Elementary School, was awarded a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift card through the College Football Playoff Foundation’s “Extra Yard for Teachers” program, in partnership with the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and Teach For America Hawaii.

“I saw my parents and then other people I recognized I was so confused to be very honest but pleasantly surprised.” Lee said.

Lee joined Teach For America in 2018 to return home to Oahu. She began her teaching career at Leihoku Elementary on the Waianae Coast before moving to Kapalama in 2022.

“It became something that passionate about. I wanted to learn more, become better. and moved closer to home,” Lee said.

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She said she was already thinking of all the books and supplies she could buy for herself and the other third-grade classes.

Beyond her regular classroom duties, she advises Hui Lama, an after-school club connecting students to Hawaiian culture, and coaches water polo at Kamehameha Schools.

The surprise also marked the official opening of the application window for Hawaii public and charter school teachers seeking classroom funding.

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Eligible educators, can apply online here.