Jason Nakamoto made the switch from running a classes to running schools.

From running a classroom to running a campus Mr. Jason Nakamoto has made the switch from being a teacher to Waianae High School’s newest administrator.

Nakamoto recently finished the Administrative Certification of Excellence (ACE) program which teaches principal candidates skills and strategies that are needed to be an administrator.

While in the program the candidate interns at a school for one year and then is eligible for a principal position.

After spending last year on the Waianae High campus Nakamoto is now officially the vice principal of operations.

“I take care of the custodians, securities,  cafeteria and  facilities, anything to do with the daily operations of the school," Nakamoto said.

Nakamoto decided to stay in Wai’anae because this is where he began his educational career.

“I started teaching in Waianae and I just love being here, I love the students I feel committed and dedicated to it that's why i do it,” Nakamoto said.


Prior to being an administrator, Nakamoto was a teacher at Makaha Elementary School for seven years and taught almost all grade levels.

 He then went on to Mililani Ike Elementary School for one year to teach fourth grade and his last two years were spent in Waianae and Nanakuli district as a Resource teacher.

Jason Found out that his new administrative desk job is not a desk job at all.

"Its challenging, there’s a lot of things that happen on campus, I'm finding out that its very difficult to eat lunch from time to time, but its a learning experience for me and I enjoy everything about it," Nakamoto said.

 Although he is no longer a teacher, he still feels the strain of trying to be in numerous places at one time.

"its very challenging for me, i find myself being stretched in many different ways and its really difficult because I try to care of everybody as much as I can, finding out there not much time to get things done," Nakamoto said.


Although he is no longer that teacher trying to divide his attention to a classroom of students, he still has divide his time between many duties at school.

 “I think its a little difficult for the kids because they don't see me as much, in their academies and I'm not able to go into the classrooms as much as the operational VP. Its tough to for the kids to actually know who I am,” Nakamoto said.

He may not be able to interact with students, but he is still dedicated to helping them and giving them the best learning environment they can have.