East Asia Seminars for Teachers in Hawaii
Application period closed
The application for our 2025 program closed on February 25, 2025.
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Overall program dates: April – July 2025
Eligibility: High school teachers in the state of Hawaii (any island)
Format: Four online seminars with scholars (April – June 2025) and an in-person summer institute in Honolulu (July 2025)
Apply now to participate in the 2025 Stanford/SPICE East Asia Seminars for Teachers in Hawaii (“Stanford SEAS Hawaii”), a free professional development opportunity for Hawaii teachers. The 2025 program is open to all public, charter, and private high school teachers in the state of Hawaii.
Stanford SEAS Hawaii is a teacher professional development opportunity for educators who wish to enhance their teaching of East Asia. Offered by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) with the generous support of the Freeman Foundation, Stanford SEAS Hawaii will select up to 20 teachers to participate in a fellowship from April to July 2025. Selected teachers—Stanford/Freeman SEAS Hawaii Fellows—will strengthen their content knowledge of East Asia by learning from a combination of experts based at Stanford University, the University of Hawaii, and other institutions. Fellows will also receive extensive curricula and teaching resources to support their teaching of East Asia in the classroom.
Course Format and Expectations:
The 2025 program will consist of two parts:
- A series of four private virtual seminars with scholars, each exploring a different aspect of East Asia (All dates to be confirmed.)
- April 1, 2025 (3:30–5:30pm)
- April 23, 2025 (3:30–5:00pm)
- May 15, 2025 (3:30–5:00pm)
- June 11, 2025 (3:30–5:00pm)
- A three-day in-person teacher institute in Honolulu in the summer of 2025 (July 12–14; confirmation pending) that will highlight the geography, cultures, politics, and history of East Asia, including a special focus on U.S.–Asia relations and the Asian diaspora in the United States.
Following each virtual seminar, Fellows will spend a week discussing relevant content and teaching strategies on an online discussion board. Fellows are expected to attend and actively participate in all virtual seminars and discussion boards. (Absences can be made up by watching a recording, if available.) Fellows are also expected to attend the summer institute in July and complete an evaluation and short original lesson plan incorporating content from Stanford SEAS Hawaii, which will be due August 15, 2025.
Participant Benefits:
- Content lectures delivered by experts at Stanford University, the University of Hawaii, and other institutions
- A teacher-centered learning environment that values globally minded classrooms
- Curriculum demonstrations and pedagogy-focused discussions with SPICE curriculum experts
- $250 professional stipend (upon completion of all seminar requirements)
- (For non-Oahu participants) $1035 travel stipend to offset the cost of travel-related expenses to Honolulu in July 2025 (Fellows will be responsible for their own travel arrangements.)
- Optional three units of credit from Stanford Continuing Studies
- Extensive complimentary curricula and other teaching materials
- Complimentary breakfasts and lunches during the summer institute
Participant Testimonials:
“The Stanford SEAS Hawaii program was a great opportunity for educators to learn about multiple aspects of history. The presenters were engaging and knowledgeable; the depth in their content area made it a rich experience. The SPICE coordinators did a fantastic job creating meetings that were useful and manageable as working teachers.”
– Shawna Poitra, Kapolei High School, O‘ahu
“My perspectives changed in every area we discussed. I learned so much.”
– Pat Gegen, Island School, Kaua‘i
“I just want to say thank you for a wonderful experience! Everyone involved in this program was incredibly generous and approachable. I really enjoyed learning with you, and I hope to continue the connection in the future! Mahalo nui.”
– Kiera Horgan, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, Hawai‘i Island
“I feel rejuvenated going into this school year, after being able to share and connect with other passionate educators from both public and private school sectors.”
– Jade Pham, Kawānanakoa Middle School, O‘ahu
“A huge thank you to SPICE for making this fellowship such a fulfilling and educational experience. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to learn more about East Asia and build these wonderful connections.”
– Nina Zhou, ‘Iolani School, O‘ahu
Contacts: