From teachers and long term substitutes to education assistants, Kalāheo High is home to all kinds of educators. While we interact with these adults on a daily basis, there is one category that we as students may not be as familiar with.  Amber Kamka is a special education teacher assistant and 2020 alumna of Kalāheo High School. To learn about the field of special education, Kamaka gave us insight on her job. 

It was at Kalāheo where Kamaka was able to explore careers both in and out of the Career and Technical Education program. 

“It bounced around between becoming a nurse in the medical field, and I found out I didn't like blood, so that was not it. Then I went into culinary with Miss Dishner, loved it, but I didn't see a career out of it”, she recalled. 

Being in Associated Students of Kalāheo for three years made her realize that teaching was the career path for her. 

“It can really change you [leadership]. That's when I decided I wanted to become a teacher.” 

But after starting a career in special education at Kainalu Elementary, Kamaka quickly grew to love the students and developed a passion for them. 

“I started at Kainalu, I worked with one-on-one support with a Down syndrome kid. Cutest kid ever, cutest kid ever, and I loved it.I fell in love with advocating for them because they can't advocate for themselves.”

“What led me to Kalaheo is that Kainalu didn't offer me a permanent position. My old boss emailed Mr. Rippard, and he said hired. I came to the interview, next thing I know I'm working with Mr. Duane and Mr. Osma,  (special education teachers at Kalāheo),” she laughed.

For many students it may be difficult to know how to interact with special education students. Kamaka gave insight on different ways to make special education students feel that they belong. And at the end of the day, they want to be treated like everyone else. 

“There are school programs like Best Buddies. I think that's the biggest stepping stone you could do. Or you know, just come in or when you see them at recess, say hi, give them a high five. Just make them feel like they belong.I think that's the biggest thing that kids should know is that they want to be like us, but they can't help their behavior”, she explained. 

At the end of the day, Kamaka shared that the goal of special education students is the same as other students in high school. But they have different ways to connect and express themselves to each other. 

“They just want to be treated like regular kids, and they are so intelligent in their own ways, so smart. It's just what sets them apart is the social aspect of them. They don't really know how to dash towards opening up and expressing how they feel. Even for kids who are non-speaking, they're non-verbal. That's what makes me want to just help them even more because they can't speak, they can't talk for themselves. The different ways of communication that these kids know, it's amazing. They're so kind and sweet and loving in their own way. “

Kamaka gave a run down on what her job is like. 

“It depends whether I'm supporting my kid in a wheelchair who needs help going to the bathroom or helping to feed, to helping my kid communicate what he's trying to say. My kid goes to like inclusion classes where, or not inclusion, like resource classes where it's smaller settings and where it's the same thing like regular general ed kids and just doing work, helping to spell, this and that. My day is more about making sure he knows how to self-regulate his emotions and not have an outburst.”

“At least with me, I can help them and guide them to what they want for their future, what they want to do in the long run. For example, my student wants to pursue neuroscience and how to cure autism.”

A plan for Kamaka is going back to school in order to become a Kindergarten teacher. While she loves being at the high school level, she enjoys teaching younger students even more. 

“They have a different aspect, not per se aspect, but a different point of view of life. They're so carefree. Their problem is ‘I don't have this crayon’ or ‘I don't want to sit next to this person.’ Not like teenager problems. I like doing the artwork with the kids. Oh, that's my favorite part when I was working in  kindergarten. Helping them. It was just, and they're so tiny and so just loving.”

Despite the pressure to move quickly in life, Kamaka reminded students that there is no rush in deciding what you want to do later in life. 

“Right now, just live your lives. There's no rush in going into the big world. You're still kids. Be kids. If you're struggling, if you're struggling to find out what you want to do, just try different classes. You're still in high school. Ask your counselor. Your counselor has a bunch of ideas. What helped me was Miss Inouye, going to Miss Inouye and looking at different colleges. I did online college. Deadlines are so much more cruel because it's a different time zone. Just ease into it. There's no rush. Find what you really, really feel good in, what you enjoy, and just pursue that.”