Innovations Public Charter School was created in 2000 in response to the Hawaii state legislature’s challenge to establish alternatives to traditional public education. At the time, Hawaii had the lowest test scores in the nation and the highest per capita student population attending private schools in the nation. Six teachers from Kahakai Elementary School embraced the opportunity to effect substantial change and designed IPCS as a team managed school. Their intention was to create a research and development center utilizing best practices and successful teaching methods. These data driven models are transferable to other schools in the state and throughout the nation. The Innovations’ ohana values small-scale neighborhood schools where generations gather to share knowledge, students are empowered by thinking skills learned and where children reach to their highest potential to realize their dreams.
Founders: (left to right) Kathleen Mika, Jennifer Hiro, Barbara Woerner, Bini Easley, Tracy Foyle