Assistant Principal of Student Life
BY SHAYNE FUJII ’89
FOR REBECCA Hodge, growing up in southeast Michigan, paradise was a long way away. Her dream had always been to make a difference in people’s lives. “Growing up in Michigan, I always dreamed of being in a warmer climate,” says Hodge, Mid Pacific’s new assistant principal for student life. “Hawai‘i has become home and my family and I love living here.” As a youngster growing up, Hodge thought she wanted to become a doctor and study medicine. After earning a degree in microbiology from the University of Michigan in 2005, she soon discovered her passion for becoming an educator. “I realized my goal has always been to help young people, I wanted to be that educator students look up to,” says Hodge. After working in microbiology for several years after college, Hodge decided to go back to school and earned her post-graduate degree in education from Eastern Michigan University. In June 2011, Hodge made her life-changing move, packing her bags and moving to Hawai‘i, sight unseen. “I wanted to expand my horizons and try something new, I applied in warmer climates in the country and Hawai‘i offered me a job first,” says Hodge. With a license in K-6, secondary math, secondary science, and teacher leadership, Hodge accepted a position in the DOE, as a 7th-grade teacher at Waianae Intermediate in the fall of 2011. “When I arrived in Hawai‘i, I got a hotel in Waikīkī, rented a car and started exploring” says Hodge. After a two-year stay at Waianae Intermediate, Hodge moved on and honed her skills at other schools before coming to Mid Pacific in July of this year. As our school’s new assistant principal of student life, Hodge absolutely loves her job. Her responsibilities include working with the activities director and teachers, making sure students’ (grades 6-12) social and emotional needs are met. “This is definitely where I want to be,” says Hodge.
For Hodge, Hawai‘i is definitely home for her as she, her husband and her daughter have no plans on leaving. She also hopes to be at Mid-Pacific long term and does have aspirations to one day become a principal. She would encourage all students to follow their passions and make the most out of every opportunity that comes their way.