Richard Brian Ogawa Waipahu, HI | K-6, Science, 2018

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Richard Brian "RB" Ogawa has been an educator at Kanoelani Elementary School for over a decade. He started his career teaching upper elementary and transitioned to be the school's STEM Coordinator for the last four years, where he teaches a STEM enrichment class for grades four through six. In addition, RB is responsible for developing project-based curriculum, providing teacher training and support, developing school-community partnerships, and co-teaching and modeling classroom sessions. He also is the advisor of the math club and the robotics team. He firmly believes that communicating a love of STEM subjects is vital to student and school development. RB initiated a science night program for multiple grade levels to involve community partners and families. This further engaged families to be a stronger part of the school community and strengthened partnerships with collaborating businesses. Over the years, RB helped design and develop innovative learning spaces to include a STEM Lab, a 600-gallon sustainable aquaponics system, a game design studio, and an engineering makerspace area which is utilized throughout the day. RB earned a B.S. in tropical horticulture from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and a M.Ed. in elementary education from Chaminade University in Hawaii. He is certified in kindergarten through sixth grade elementary education.

• High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
• Awardee holding Presidential certificate with National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources Assistant Director, Dr. Karen Marrongelle, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, and National Science Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Dr. F. Fleming Crim
• High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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