Ryllah Rodrigues’ journey from high school student to a fully licensed special education teacher—and Milken Teacher of Promise awardee—is a testament to the power of early educational opportunities. The Lānaʻi native credits the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Lānaʻi Education Center and Early College—which allows high school students to earn college credits—for giving her the tools to achieve her academic and professional goals at a young age.
“UH Maui College really set me up for success,” said Rodrigues, who graduated from high school in 2021 while also completing her associate’s degree in liberal arts through the Lānaʻi Education Center. “Having the chance to take college classes while in high school helped me get ahead and develop a strong academic foundation that I could build on.”
Rodrigues, now a special education teacher at Pearl Harbor Elementary School, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general education and special education dual licensure from UH Mānoa in 2023. She is grateful for the early guidance of Lānaʻi Education Center mentors Natalie Ropa (student support) and Pamela Alconcel (director), both of whom she refers to as “Aunty.”
“They really helped me map out my academic journey and connected me with scholarships that made my education affordable,” she said. “Their support gave me the opportunity to focus on my studies without worrying about student debt.”
Alconcel said, “She is a ‘can do’ person. She had a plan to get her degree and kept on track.”
Helping special-needs students to thrive
Now in the early stages of her career, Rodrigues has already made a profound impact, earning the highly regarded Milken Teacher of Promise Award. Her work in a fully self-contained classroom for students with moderate to severe needs has been described as inspiring. Despite challenges, including staffing shortages, Rodrigues has built an environment where non-verbal students and those with severe behaviors thrive.
A parent of one of her students shared, “Ms. Rodrigues is a great example of the very definition of what teachers are. She has taught my daughter lifelong lessons that have carried her inside the classroom but also outside the classroom. With Ms. Rodrigues’ kindness and love for the kids, she has helped my daughter gain independence, confidence, and love for school. This kind of growth cannot be just taught and or showed but it happens when the teacher believes in her students.”
An opportunity to achieve dreams
As an advocate for the Lānaʻi Education Center, Rodrigues encourages high school students, especially those in rural communities, to take advantage of the program.
“It’s not out of reach,” she said. “This program can be the first step toward a successful higher education journey, and I hope others see it as an opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
Rodrigues’ dreams today include pursuing a Juris Doctor degree in educational law. Her story is inspiring the younger generation in her community, proving that with the right support from institutions such as UH Maui College and the Lānaʻi Education Center, there are no limits to what students can achieve.
