Teach For America Hawaiʻi names new leader

Teach For America Hawaiʻi recently appointed Meilan Akaka Manfre as its next executive director, effective July 1. She succeeds Jill Baldemor, who served in the role for 18 years, according to Instagram.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Meilan Akaka Manfre (Hawaiʻi ’08) back home to Teach For America Hawaiʻi as our next executive director!” Teach for America Hawaiʻi said in the post. “Meilan brings deep local knowledge, a commitment to creating opportunities for all students and a humble, collaborative leadership style that builds bridges and fosters community."

Akaka Manfre will lead the organization’s regional operations, a recent announcement noted. 

“After over a decade of working together, I know Meilan leads with deep aloha, wisdom and purpose,” Baldemor said in a statement. “I’m grateful to pass the torch to someone so steeped in our mission and community.”

On LinkedIn, Baldemor wrote, “I am thrilled to pass the baton to Meilan and am confident she is the right leader for Teach For America Hawaiʻi’s next chapter. … She has a depth of understanding and experience working in education here in Hawaiʻi, including five years at Campbell High School and 10 years at Teach For America. And, she is deeply committed to creating opportunities for all students and strengthening our local community here in Hawaiʻi.”

Akaka Manfre started working with Teach For America in 2008 as a Hawaiʻi corps, “teaching for two years in underserved schools in Hawai'i, working to expand educational opportunities for students," according to Teach For America Hawaiʻi.

She taught special education and was department head at James Campbell High School before going on to co-found DreamHouse ʻEwa Beach public charter school, per the announcement.

“Meilan brings a remarkable blend of experience, leadership, and heart to this role,” said Teach For America Hawaiʻi Regional Advisory Board Chair Jeff Arce in a statement. “She’s deeply rooted in and familiar with many of the complex issues embedded in Hawaiʻi’s educational landscape, and she has a clear vision for how Teach For America Hawaiʻi can continue to partner with communities to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.”

Her career at Teach For America continued from 2013 to 2023. Akaka Manfre held multiple leadership roles, including manager of teacher leadership development and managing director of regional team initiatives. She was a growth coach for her alma mater, Punahou School and helped launch the Punahou Sustainability Fellowship for high school students.

Not to mention, she founded Akaka Manfre Coaching and co-founded CoachEdPlus LLC, a Hawaiʻi-based consulting business for education leaders nationwide.

“I’m honored to return to Teach For America Hawaiʻi in this new capacity,” Akaka Manfre said in a statement. “This community raised me, and I am proud to serve the next generation of students and leaders who will shape Hawaiʻi’s future. I look forward to partnering with our local schools and communities to build toward a more just and thriving education system for all keiki.”

She received a bachelor’s degree in music from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and a master’s in special education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Akaka Manfre also serves on the board of the Rev. Abraham Kahu Akaka Ministries Foundation.

Since 2006, Teach For America Hawaiʻi has supported educators, alumni and students across the Islands. The organization aims “to deepen its impact by recruiting future educators and supporting an active network of alumni committed to opportunity and excellence in education.”

According to its website, Teach For America is funded through a combination of public and private sources, with majority of its operating cash contributions coming from private donors, including businesses, foundations, government organizations and individuals.

For several years, Teach For America Hawaiʻi has partnered with the Easy Post Hawai‘i Bowl and the College Football Playoff Foundation on its Extra Yard for Teachers program to support Hawai‘i public school teachers. In 2024, $100,000 was raised for its cause.

Those interested in joining Teach For America’s Teacher Corps may receive “salaries ranging from around $33,000 to $72,000 per year, plus vacation and health benefits from their school district,” its website notes.

For more information, visit teachforamerica.org/hawaii.

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.