Yannabah Lewis

Kailua-Kona, HI - Mathematics
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There is a quote I’ve kept posted on my wall all the time I’ve been teaching: “What you must do, do it well and with all your might. The day, the hour that is gone, does not return.” I’ve tried very hard to live up to this ideal and to apply universal spiritual values and teachings to make a positive difference in the lives of students and adults. The Presidential Award is a validation of this effort, an amazing confirmation that this model really works. With gratitude.

Yannabah Lewis has taught mathematics at Kealakehe High School since it opened in 1997. Previously, she spent 5 years at Konawaena High School. Yannabah has taught courses ranging from Basic Mathematics to Calculus. Her current focus is Algebra 2.

As a charter member of a new school, Yannabah has been the Mathematics Department Chair for 13 years. She serves as a school-wide leader and mentors 10 math teachers, 2 of whom are former students. Yannabah helps facilitate a variety of curriculum and professional development opportunities for colleagues at the school and district levels.

Yannabah is known for establishing positive relationships with students, explaining mathematical concepts in understandable ways, and encouraging students to ponder deep ideas such as infinity.

Yannabah and colleague David Huitt are curriculum directors for a daily schoolwide course that presents ethical and philosophical ideas from a variety of sources. This curriculum, Universal Ethical Studies, recently gained approval to be offered as a course throughout the State.

Yannabah has a B.A. in Mathematics and a Secondary Teaching Certificate from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and an M.Ed. from Heritage College. She was selected as the 2007 Milken Educator from Hawaii.

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