Receiving the Presidential Award is a true honor, one that I proudly accept on behalf of my inquisitive students, our island community, and my inspiring global colleagues. It is profound and yet humbling to be recognized on this level for my classroom efforts to encourage my students to think deeply, embrace their mistakes as learning opportunities, and investigate our natural environment with passion and integrity. This acknowledgment inspires me to further my pursuit of a lifetime of learning.

Wrayna Fairchild Honolulu, HI | K-6, Science, 2020

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

Wrayna Fairchild has been an educator for 17 years and is currently teaching kindergarten through sixth grade STEM at Voyager Public Charter School, where she has taught for the past four years. Wrayna has previously taught at other schools in Hawaii including Punahou School, Ka’ōhao School, Manoa Elementary School, Waikiki School, Kealakehe Elementary School, and Innovations Public Charter School. Wrayna feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach abroad at Phorms Berlin Mitte in Germany and American School of Valencia in Spain. Wrayna started her teaching career teaching sixth grade at Driffill School in California. Wrayna strives to provide opportunities for her students to learn through design thinking and the natural environment. Her innovative methods of teaching have earned her recognition including the Voya Unsung Heroes award, Mental Floss Innovators in Teaching Platypus award, and The Henry Ford Teacher Innovator award. Wrayna thrives on new learning opportunities and routinely participates in cohorts and fellowships. Her current and recent cohorts include Hawaii State Teacher fellowship; Next Generation Science Teaching Program fellowship; NEA Foundation Global Learning fellowship, NASA Mission Earth Educator cohort; Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development Emerging Leader cohort; and Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force member. Wrayna received her B.A. in liberal studies from California State University Channel Islands and Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Wrayna is certified in kindergarten through sixth grade elementary teaching and is a certified School Library Media Specialist.

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