The Organization
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education operates as a single, statewide public school district serving students across every major island. Because it functions as one unified district, curriculum decisions made at the department level can effectively reach and impact schools throughout the entire state.
The Engagement
Our working relationship with the department was carefully built over the course of two years.
Initial Connection: In September 2024, Michele met with recently retired Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami, who immediately championed bringing the Brave Series to Hawaiʻi's public secondary schools.
Curriculum Development: Phyllis joined the Brave Series team to expertly design the Brave Together Coed Teacher Lessons, ensuring the curriculum was perfectly tailored for easy public school implementation.
Leadership Support: In December 2024, Phyllis and Michele presented the program to Superintendent Hayashi, who shared their vision of making it accessible to secondary schools statewide.
Statewide Outreach: Over the following year, the team finalized the Coed version, while Michele presented the Brave Series to all Hawaiʻi middle school principals and traveled to Maui to share resources with DOE complex counselors.
The Outcome
In the summer of 2026, after a thorough vetting process and collaboration with the DOE, the partnership yielded incredible results:
State Approval: The team created a customized, 3-article Hawaiʻi version of Brave Together, which the DOE approved for use in secondary schools to meet the state's Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative mandate.
Positive Reception: The statewide presentation to principals generated an overwhelmingly positive reaction.
Resource Distribution: The complex leader overseeing the Maui meeting purchased Dream Big Journals for every counselor in attendance, providing them with immediate resources and officially solidifying our ongoing working relationship.
Work with Michele.
If you lead a school, church, or organization and want to bring this kind of work to your community, please reach out. Michele will follow up with you personally.
- Based in
- Honolulu, HI