The Learning Curve

What I Learned from Working in the Public School System

I started working as a Behavioral Health Specialist for the Department of Education in 2020. Yes I said 2020. The world was going to shit and everyone was losing hope. The school system was frantically trying to find a way to educate students through distance learning and I decided in November that I would join this fight. It’s now 2025 and I am still loving this position, although it has brought me to my breaking point a few times.
I started out in the middle school setting and then later worked at the ILC for students ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old. The ILC is designed for students with the most intensive behavioral needs in the public school setting. Students on this campus have demonstrated in need beyond their schools ability to provide. Each home school has to prove that they have provided every intervention available and exhausted all resources in order to get their student into this highly specialized separate public facility. I was recruited by my supervisor because I was a trainer for safety care which is the DOE approved method of de-escalating, aggressive or problematic students and providing restraints.
Currently, I am working in the high school setting with 14 to 18-year-old’s on Oahu. My husband always jokes that I always said I would never want to work with highschoolers, but here I am enjoying working with the sometimes wild and unpredictable adolescent population. While this age group has its pros and cons, there are definitely more good days than bad and I feel like I am able to effectively help these young people their darkest days. The fire that drives me to wake up and go to work every day is. the hope that I will have an impact on these kids ability to accurately see the world and develop a growth mindset as they enter adulthood. Is Hawaii good for raising kids? Many ask that question but there isn’t an single answer to satisfy the masses. It’s beyond expensive to survive here… the cost of rent, milk, parking, everything… it can be overwhelming to think of how much it really costs to raise kids in Hawaii. On the flip side, it’s the most beautiful place on Earth and the people are unlike any you will meet anywhere in the world. The ‘aina is sacred, the aloha is tangible, the power of nature is everywhere. People come here from all over the world in order to heal but the truth is we all have our own healing to do, especially the young people of Hawaii.
A big part of my job is helping a students develop coping skills for stress, anxiety, anger, inattention and depression. Life is hard when you’re a teenager, especially when you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. In 2025 Toyama Therapy Co. was launched and began taking keiki on a waitlist basis. Through individual virtual counseling, I would like to reach the youth of Hawaii, no matter what island they live on. As long as they have an Internet connection and a willingness to go on a productive journey then great changes can be made. I have a special interest in working with kids facing anger management issues. I am most passionate about this niche because it is something that I still battle with daily. Controlling my own anger has been something that has not come easy. I have developed coping skills for anger by trial and error and unfortunately upsetting some people along the way. At Toyama Therapy Co. I hope to reach children ages 12 to 18 who are having difficulty managing their anger, but are willing to work on the problem. Ready for this journey? Come with me, let’s walk this path together.