HONOLULU (HI Now) - Hawaiʻi faces a persistent teacher shortage, with half of new educators leaving within five years. This impacts tens of thousands of students who often lack consistent access to a state-certified teacher. But a local program, Upward, is providing a powerful solution to help Hawaiʻi teachers increase their annual salary by as much as $26,000 in just three years.
In an exclusive interview with Hawaiʻi News Now, Upward Founder Ben Ahn, a born-and-raised islander and former DOE teacher himself, explains how Upward’s professional development program is revolutionizing how local educators reclassify their salaries. The modernized program provides teachers accelerated opportunities to earn the university credits needed for pay raises and directly tackles the financial challenges that often drive teachers away.
Upward’s mission is to empower every Hawaiʻi teacher to reach their maximum DOE salary, fundamentally transforming our islands’ educational landscape for the better. In July, Upward is running a special referral promotion that can earn teachers $100 gift cards when new teachers sign up using their code.
To learn more or to register now, visit www.upwardteachers.com, and follow them on Instagram @upwardteachers.
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