This year, CARA is partnering with the West Hawaii Complex Area to strengthen college access across Hawaii. Principals and assistant principals from all five high schools are taking part in a year-long coaching program, developed with Superintendent Janette Snelling and CARA’s College Inquiry team.

Recognizing the crucial role of school leaders in postsecondary access programming, the aim of this partnership is to inspire, engage, and equip the island’s principals to become stronger champions for college and career access, building on the unique foundations already in place at each school.

The program launched in July with a two-day retreat where leaders explored college access fundamentals, assessed their schools’ current practices, and began designing projects to strengthen curriculum, family engagement, and advising. These projects aim to improve exploration and application processes while positioning principals as leaders in the long-term cultural and structural changes needed for student success.

A highlight of the retreat was a panel of West Hawaii Teen College Counselors – recent graduates serving as peer leaders who shared their experiences navigating the college process. Their honesty about what helped and what was missing inspired school leaders to think differently about their role in creating more supportive, student-centered systems that reflect and respond to students’ realities.

We’re excited to share more about this work in the months ahead and to learn alongside our partners as the year unfolds.