Today we’d like to introduce you to May Best.

Hi May, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I was born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii. I was very lucky to grow up in such a beautiful and diverse place. My parents immigrated from Japan, and emphasized the importance of hard work and education since I was young. I went to a public elementary school, but later attended a private middle and high school. The wonderful education I received as a child, the connections I built with my dedicated teachers, and the support my parents provided, set me on a path to success. I got my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and committed to being an elementary school teacher. Looking back on my childhood and upbringing, I really appreciate the rich diversity and culture I was surrounded with. As an Asian American person and educator, it is important for me to help my students and own children feel seen and heard in their communities.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

My road to being where I am today was definitely not the most smooth one. I graduated from Willamette University in 2009. I got my Masters of Art in Teaching in 2010 after an intense 10-month program at Willamette University. Because of the economic recession at the time, there were very limited teaching jobs available. I remember applying to over 30 different teaching jobs all over Oregon, but no luck. In 2010, I moved back to Hawaii for the year and found a job as an assistant teacher, where I was able to gain some meaningful teaching experience. The next few years after that were also quite challenging. I moved back to Oregon, and had to work hard to get into a new school each year. In the first 4 years of my teaching career, I taught in 4 different schools, 4 different grade levels, with new teammates and students each year. Although those years were uncertain and difficult, it shaped me to be the teacher that I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am an elementary school teacher in Portland, Oregon. I have a Masters in Teaching and an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) endorsement, from Willamette University. In my 15 years of teaching, I have taught in both Hawaii and Oregon, and have experience teaching 1st-5th graders in a range of different schools and communities. Growing up in Hawaii where there was a range of diverse cultures and backgrounds, it was challenging to be in a predominantly white environment in Oregon. The best teachers I have had were the ones who helped me to feel seen and heard, so an educator, I work hard to be sure to create a safe and welcoming environment for all of my students and families. I believe that finding ways to do that within any community is what sets me apart from others.

I am most proud of my work ethic and ways that I communicate and connect with my students and their families. I do my best to get to know students and want students to get to know me from day 1. Helping students to understand that I am also a part of the class community has been a great way for me to form relationships with my students, and I believe that families feel that they can connect with and rely on me, too. Being an educator is not easy, and there are many days where this profession feels like it’s too much, but I am grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference each and every day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: maykohara