Koko Head Elementary School

Posted: September 3, 2024

My child has attended Koko Head since kindergarten, and has done well with all of the staff and almost all of the teachers. There is one teacher in particular who does not have the skills or knowledge necessary to guide children who need more support and struggle with emotional regulation and focus. Who fails to follow 504 plans/IEP’s as if they were optional to the teaching occupation. Who uses tactics that clearly lack emotional maturity as an adult, and harassing parents by writing incessant emails about petty behavior issues that are common to most children.

Additionally, using antiquated discipline tactics like forcing students to write unauthentic, coerced apology letters, using social shaming by having peers police and tell on certain students, and withholding recess as punishment, all of which has been found to be counterproductive in educating children by researchers.

This type of negative reinforcement only affects growing children who can begin to display behavior issues out of frustration, and the previous principle and currently employed teacher fail to understand and respond appropriately and adequately to children who simply learn differently and/or need more connection before correction, more physical movement breaks, and encouragement rather than constant negative judgment or punishment.

As parents, we entrust our children to teachers for 5-6 hours per day, 5 days a week, some of us are forced to have our children in public school in order to go to work, and the feeling you get when your child is being constantly ridiculed and shamed, knowing that they deserve better emotional maturity from an adult that is suppose to lead them is incredibly disheartening. We need adults to show up for these kids with a strong emotional intelligence, the courage to be patient, day-in and day-out, and the strength and compassion needed for positive leadership in the classroom.

There are some amazing teachers and staff at this school, so I don’t wish to paint the entire school in a negative light, because there is SO MUCH POSITIVITY here, but one bad apple can truly sour the entire batch, and the experience that a child can have with one bad teacher can be incredibly detrimental to their developing sense of self and social wellbeing. I know this sadly, first-hand.

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024

Posted: May 24, 2022

Posted: May 24, 2022

Posted: May 24, 2022

Posted: May 24, 2022

Posted: May 24, 2022

Posted: May 24, 2022

Posted: May 24, 2022

My husband and I cannot thank everyone at Koko Head Elementary School enough for their kindness and amazing support of our daughter and family. Despite having transferred to Koko Head almost two months late from the UK, everyone from the principal, staff, teachers, and local families collectively made our daughter’s transition a smooth one; even as the school year draws to a close, they continue to make our daughter’s experience an incredibly positive one. Despite their funding limitations, we have been impressed with how hard and selflessly this school has worked to not only create a safe atmosphere, but also to help their students learn how to strike a balance between the importance of having a strong academic focus and a sound character. Our daughter’s 5th grade teacher, Mrs. C.S., is brilliant in that regard; we honestly could not have asked for a better teacher or advocate for our daughter. If you’re looking for a school that offers a wonderful staff, caring and hardworking teachers, active parent involvement, a strong school curriculum, a good gifted and talented program (our daughter enjoyed it), and a community that is very welcoming and does not tolerate bullying then choose Koko Head Elementary!

Posted: June 10, 2021

Moved to this school in the beginning of a pandemic year. As difficult as the year was, from virtual learning to hybrid in-person learning, to fully in-person transition at Q4, the Principal, administrative staff, and teachers were incredible supporters and dedicated to the students learning experience. The environment is caring, friendly, inclusive and welcoming yet holds high standards for academic excellence. Thank you Koko Head for a wonderful year.

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2021

Posted: March 30, 2021

We are a military family and this is my children's third elementary school. I hope we can stay for the duration of their elementary. I really love it here and so do the kids. One child being on IEP, I can't say enough of how much the principal, resource and teacher helped in our transition to the school. The principal gave us a personal call welcoming us to the school. They were very accommodating and had all of the training and resources needed for my my child to succeed. Really love this elementary school.. can't say enough.

Posted: March 30, 2021

Posted: March 30, 2021

Posted: March 30, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

As you can see the school does not have the tools or knowledge to help children with special needs. It has higher than state average of discipline for kids with disabilities. Instead of helping them, they are suspending them. This hurts everybody.

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: January 14, 2021

Posted: March 19, 2018

Posted: March 19, 2018

Posted: March 19, 2018

Posted: March 19, 2018

Posted: March 19, 2018

My 2 sons had a remarkable experience at KokoHead

Posted: January 16, 2017

Our daughter loves this school and absolutely adores her teacher. My husband and I are pleased with our child's teacher, she is very caring, fair, and has high expectations. The school does a good job at including parents to make us feel part of the community. We enjoyed the family bingo night in the first quarter and the family movie night in the second. This is a good school headed in the right direction.

Posted: October 23, 2016

Our family moved to Hawaii from Massachusetts a few years ago and we were initially concerned with the reputation of Hawaii public schools. However, in preparing for our move to Honolulu, one of our friends suggested Koko Head School. We scheduled a tour and was impressed that the principal of the school is the one who gives the tours. At the other four schools that we requested a tour at, we were given a tour an office type of staff member and one of the schools didn't even return our calls (not going to mention that school's name). The principal's on the young side, but is passionate about and knows his students.

We decided to move to Koko Head's Portlock area and enrolled our 2 children at this school. Our children are in their third year here. We were impressed by our child's Gr. K , 1 and Gr. 3 & 4 teachers. Caring and dedicated, you can feel that the teachers truly love their students and not just working for a paycheck. At the end of the year we're going to transition back east and will miss being part of this family (in Hawaii they call family ohana).

Posted: June 8, 2016

Our experience has been positive from day one. The teachers are caring, dedicated, and committed to our children's needs. The principal has an open door policy, is proactive, and has a vision to move the school forward. Change isn't easy, but he's trying to do some innovative things at the school. We chose to move into this school's boundaries based on a few friends who had/have their children attend this school. We're so glad we made this choice!

Posted: September 18, 2012

Leadership is lacking at this school. It makes me sad that I've overheard administrative staff talking and gossiping about its special education team. I understand if this is admins second year, but it would be helpful for parents to be better prepared, better informed, and if the staff and parents were given some compassion. Meetings are rushed. Questions unanswered. Gossiping leadership? My sons education is at stake here while school continues to point fingers at one another, no responsibility is taken and kids are an afterthought. It's very sad. On a positive note, there is an excellent special ed preschool teacher and she is warm, inviting, answers my questions. I feel like we are partners. I also got a lot of support from the occupational therapist and the person who was doing an iq test. Very helpful. :) If it wasn't for the teacher, I would have zero faith in this school.