Top Teachers
Saturday, November 8, 1997
Name: Monica Manegdeg
Age: 30
Position: Counselor, grades K-3
Education: University of Hawaii-Manoa
Pastimes: Watching comedic films
Monica Manegdeg has what every educator should -- a "teacher's calling." A teacher with a calling
That calling, as the Leihoku Elementary School sixth-grade teacher-turned-counselor explains, fills her with a need to educate students -- and to teach them about themselves.
"Her greatest asset is her commitment and dedication to working with all different kids," said Randall Miura, Leihoku principal. "She's very humanistic, a down-to-earth person."
Miura said Manegdeg is always connecting with students, often visiting classrooms or walking the campus, where everyone knows her name.
"She's a people-person," he said. "Parents and kids know where she's coming from ... she knows where they're coming from."
Which makes her very valuable to the school. Miura said Manegdeg, who has taught at Leihoku for seven years, initiated many extracurricular activities for the students -- and always carried through. "She's so energetic," he said.
A temporary counselor for this school year, Manegdeg said she has not abandoned her duty to instill in students feelings of responsibility and self-worth. Miura said Manegdeg also instills students with respect, love, honesty and hard work just by being there for and listening to them.
"The kids have a need ... I want to teach them that there is a reason to learn and be the best (they) can be," said Manegdeg.
Kimberly Fu, Star-Bulletin
