A Tongan born teacher in the United States, Lynette Suliana Sikahema Finau of Arizona, will be distinguished with the “Excellence in Education Award” at the annual Community Voice Awards in Seattle.

Lynette currently works as an English teacher at Spanaway Lake High School in the state of Washington.

According to a local Seattle newspaper, The International Examiner, Lynette is one of the few certificated Pacific Islander teachers in Washington.

In 2013, she was appointed by her state’s Governor to serve as a Board Commissioner for Washington State’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA). Her role was to assist in creating a culture where full participation and social equality of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are achievable.

The International Examiner announced its recognition of Lynette yesterday. Lynette was only a child when she moved with her family to the United States from Tonga. They settled in Mesa, Arizona where she was raised. Lynette now resides in Seattle, Washington.

Lynette studied at the University of Washington where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies on Culture, Literature, and the Arts. She also achieved a dual Master’s Degree in Education and in Education Leadership and Change. Lynette is currently a PhD Candidate at Antioch University’s Graduate School of Leadership and Change Program. With teaching endorsements in English Composition, Literature and History.

She is currently conducting a Grounded Theory research on Reflective Leadership, designed to help increase the number of teachers of colour as an essential component toward closing achievement gaps.

Lynette told the International Examiner that the most important issue for Pacific Islanders in America concerning education was the ability of students to adapt to a multi-cultural environment.

“The most important issue, to me, is the education of Pacific Islander students in a constant evolving process of living in a multicultural, multiethnic society, yet still limited with skills and tools needed to be successful in school", stated Lynette.

She explained that teachers acted as "mirrors" and that the achievement gaps of Pacific Islander students would be narrowed if there were more teachers of colour.

"Pacific Islands teachers are a rarity in the education system, yet Pacific Islands student enrollment has increased nationwide in the past 30 years and unfortunately, a high percentage of the Pacific Islands student population exists within the achievement gap. With this continued underservicing and underrepresentation in the teaching force, how can we ensure that students of color succeed in the classroom?"

"Increasing the number of teachers of color as mirrors or role models is one of many factors that can contribute to narrowing the achievement gap and the vision gap. This is the gap that can arise in how students of color view themselves as future professionals."

"After all, it is difficult for students to be what they cannot see. Students need mirrors. They need to see themselves reflected in the curriculum and see teachers who reflect back to them their language, their culture, their ethnicity, their religion, and their experiences. In the teaching profession, there are not enough mirrors for students of color, especially when there is a clear relationship between teacher quality, diversity and student success."