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Paula
Education
E-114
Major
Full Professor of Social Studies Education
808-689-2341

Dr. Major is a Full Professor for Division of Elementary Education. She is currently teaching social studies methods, second language acquisition and a education technology course to undergraduate teacher candidates. Her love for including diversity components and technology within education has been seen over the years. She taught in the Detroit Public School System in first and second grade classrooms. She also assumed a teaching positions in Maturin, Venezuela and Liu Zhou, China were she taught in bilingual settings for two years.

With over fifteen years of supervising teacher candidates, Dr. Major maintains a positive working relationship within the O‘ahu schools district.

Her research interests include using culturally responsive materials to select appropriate instructional strategies, to stimulate classroom discussions as well as to teach about various cultural contributions to academic learning.

Dr. Major earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University, a master’s of teaching degree in elementary education from Wayne State University and her doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction as well as her English as a Second Language certificate from the University of Mississippi.

Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction    
University of Mississippi, 2006      

ESL Certification    
University of Mississippi, 2006      

M.A.T Elementary Education  
Wayne State University, 2000

B.A. Political Science Spanish     
Howard University, 1995

2013-Present: Associate Professor of Elementary Education
University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu

Summer of 2010: Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, American Samoa

2008-2013: Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu

2006-2008: Visiting Assistant Professor
University of Mississippi, Oxford & Tupelo Campus

Summer of 2005: English Teacher volunteer
Liuzhou, Guangxi, China

2004-2006: Graduate Instructor
University of Mississippi, Oxford Campus

2002-2004: Graduate Assistant
University of Mississippi, Oxford Campus

2000-2002: First Grade Teacher 
International School of Monagas, Maturin, Venezuela

1999-2000: Second Grade Teacher
Nichols School, Detroit, MI

1997-1999: First Grade Teacher
Stellwagen Elementary, Detroit, MI

1996-1997: Sixth Grade Teacher
Burbank Middle School, Detroit, MI

  • Educational Media & Technology
  • Social Studies Methods I and Social Studies Methods II
  • Early Field Experience
  • Introduction to Teaching as a Career
  • Student Teaching
  • Block A and Block B Practicum

Courses developed:

  • Diversity in American Education (WI)
  • Teaching Culturally Linguistic Diverse Learners (WI)
  • Block 3 Practicum w/ Seminar
  • Block 1 Practicum w/ Seminar 

Courses taught in the University of Hawai‘i System: 

  • ITE 322 442 Elementary Social Studies Methods (Taught in Am. Samoa)
  • ITE 322 443 Elementary Social Studies Methods (Taught in Am. Samoa)

 

Major, P. & Graham-Tutt, C. (October 2020) The Contributions of Pili’Aina: Faculty Reflective Essays on a Community-Based Project in Hawai`i. Journal of Community Engagement and Special.

Mathis, P. & Boyd, N. (2011). Peanut butter and jelly is more than just a sandwich! Social Studies Research and Practice.

Boyd, N. & Mathis, P., Swift E. (2011). Our Friend Martin, more than a movie: Using culturally relevant video to initiate critical conversations about race in an urban classroom. Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, Vol. 13, Number 1.

Mathis, P. & Boyd, N. (2009). Who is teaching Social Studies?: Pre-Service teachers’ reaction. Social Studies Research and Practice. Volume 4, Number 3, Winter 2009. 

Mathis, P. (2012). $506, travel grant from Budget Resource Committee, UH West O‘ahu.

Mathis, P. & Alexander, E. (2011). $850 grant from Women’s Campus for Traveling Multicultural Book Bags.

Mathis, P. (2010). $1200 travel award from Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE).

Mathis, P. (2008). $390 travel grant from the University Research Council.

Love, F., Moore, J., Thompson, J., & Mathis, P. (2003). $185,000 Reading Institute: Integrating Literacy Skills in the Content Areas for Middle School Teachers.

Elementary Teachers Perspectives toward English Language Learners and the Use of Instruction. Served on two dissertation committees.

  • Fluent in Spanish for more than 18 years both writing and reading
  • Incorporating technology into instruction (Blackboard Collaborate, Podcasts, Laulima, videos, etc.)

"Using Video Podcasting to Support Student Reflections." Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, Honolulu, HI. October 2011.

"To Thoroughly know something, Teach it to Others Hawaii Great Teachers Seminar 2010." UH West O‘ahu Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence, Honolulu, HI. April 2011.

"Be a Bloggie and Play Videos on Demand via Laulima!" UH West O‘ahu Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence, Honolulu, HI. February 2011.

Hawai‘i International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI. January 2011.

  • Topic One: Culturally Linguistic Diverse Learners Benefit from Trade Books (N. Boyd & T. Williams-Hayes).
  • Topic Two: Using Technology to Enhance Teacher Education Course (N. Boyd & T. Williams-Hayes)

"Social Studies is Electrifying via The World Wide Web (Poster)." Hawai‘i International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI. January 2009.

"It’s Our Responsibility to Create Centered-Cared Environments." Hawai‘i International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI. January 2009.

"One on One Interview with Mississippi Teachers." Alabama Mississippi Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Mobile, AL. January 2008.

"Its’ in the Bag: Bring Multicultural Literature to Life for Students and their Parents (in place of T. Williams-Hayes)." National Association for Multicultural Education Conference. Baltimore, MD. November 2007.

"Mississippi Teachers Express Concerns for English Language Learners." Alabama Mississippi Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Mobile, AL. January 2007.

"Enhancing Community Encounters through Blackboard (N. Boyd)." Mississippi Blackboard Users Guide. Biloxi, MS. January 2007.

"Justice for English Language Learners (N. Boyd)." National Association for Multicultural Education Conference. Phoenix, AZ. October 2006.

"Let’s Talk: Academic and Conversational Language (N. Boyd)." International Reading Association Conference (IRA). Mobile, AL, January 2006.

"Differentiated Instruction for the Diverse Learner." Mississippi Department of Education Summer Conference (N. Boyd & S. Rowland). University, MS. June 2006.

"Class 5: English Summer Camp in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China." Faculty Brown Bag Luncheon, University of Mississippi. University, MS. October 2005.

"Woman to Woman: Mentoring Graduate Students." The Graduate School, University of Mississippi. University, MS. October 2005.

  • Mathis, P. (2012) $506, travel grant from Budget Resource Committee, UH West O‘ahu
  • Mathis, P. & Alexander, E. (2011). $850 grant from Women’s Campus for Traveling Multicultural Book Bags
  • Mathis, P. (2010). $1200 travel award from Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE)
  • Mathis, P. (2008) $390 travel grant from the University Research Council.
  • Love, F., Moore, J., Thompson, J., & Mathis, P. (2003). $185,000 Reading Institute: Integrating Literacy Skills in the Content Areas for Middle School Teachers

Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
Studied Mandarin Chinese and lived there for three months.

Maturin, Venezuela
Studied Spanish and lived there for two years.

  • 116 Elementary Education (K-3), Mississippi
  • 117 Elementary Education (4-8), Mississippi
  • 117 English as a Second Language, (K-12), Mississippi
  • Elementary K-5, K-8 self contained, Michigan
  • Holds an ESL certification
  • National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)
  • Phi Delta Kappa (PDK)
  • Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
  • International Reading Association (IRA)
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Service to the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu:

  • 2022-current: Ethics Committee Chair
  • 2019-2022: UHWO Open Education Resource Committee, committee member 
  • 2019- Current: Budget and Resource Committee, committee member 
  • 2017-Present: Program Review Committee, committee member 
  • 2015-2017: Faculty Senate Representative for Education Division
  • Fall 2016: Budget and Resource Committee, co-chair
  • 2016: Faculty Search Committee, Mathematics Methods, committee member
  • 2015: Faculty Search Committee, Special Education, committee member
  • Fall 2015: Faculty Personnel Committee for Education, chair
  • Fall 2014: Faculty Personnel Committee for Education, chair
  • 2013-2015: Faculty Senate Representative for Education Division
  • Fall 2013: Faculty Personnel Committee for Education, chair
  • 2013-2015: Distance Education Committee; co-chair
  • 2013-2014: Instructor for Economics Search Committee, Elem. Ed representative
  • 2010-2017: Distinguished Visiting Scholar Committee; selected representative by VCAA 
  • 2010-2015: Outstanding Teaching Laulima Innovation Award, chair 
  • 2008-Present: Academic Advisor to UH West O‘ahu students in Teacher Education Program
  • 2009-2013: Distance Education Committee; Elem. Ed representative
  • 2011-2012: National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), wrote report for social studies standards, and conceptual framework
  • 2012: Educational Testing Service; Elem. Ed representative
  • 2010-2011 & 2013-Present: Faculty Senate Representative for Education Division
  • 2009-2011: WASC Steering Committee, responsible for Elem. Ed Report
  • 2009-2010: UH West O‘ahu’s Assessment Committee, responsible for Elem. Ed Report
  • 2010-2011: Curriculum Committee; Elem. Ed representative
  • February 2010: Participated Career Fair at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School
  • 2008-2010: Educational Effectiveness Committee, Chair
  • 2009-1010: Hawai`i Food Bank; Campus Representative, raised $1,870 in cash, $370 in merchandise purchased for a total of $2,240. 265lbs of canned goods
  • 2009: Added service learning component to EDEE 415 course; Read Aloud America 
  • January 30, 2009: Participated Career Fair at Moanalua High School’s Career Fair 
  • Served on three Faculty Search Committees; Dr. Laszlo, Dr. Biffle and Dr. Jones

Service to the University of Hawai‘i System

  • 2019-2022: UH System Level Open Education Resource (OER), committee member
  • 2012: Hawai‘i National Great Teacher Seminar, facilitator for 24th Annual
  • 2009: 3rd Annual Winter Institute for Black Studies, planning committee member
  • Summer 2010: taught ITE 322 for UH Mānoa in American Samoa
  • Service to Professional Associations
  • 2012-Present: Editor for Social Studies Research and Practice (edited MS 06514, MS 06491)
  • 2011-Present: Editor for National Teacher Education Journal (edited 4 journals)
  • October 18-21, 2011: Convener for Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) Conference 
  • Service to Neighborhood, City, County, or State Communities
  • 2012-Present: Hawai‘i Chapter, The Links, Inc., active/financial member 
  • 2009-Present: Read Aloud America, member of book committee
  • 2009-Present: Read Aloud America, volunteer reader & supervisor
  • 2009-2011: Delta G.E.M.S, mentor teenage girls ages 14 to 17 years of age
  • 2004-Present: Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Hawai’i Alumnae Chapter, active/financial member
  • November 4, 2008: Worked election polls at Naanunu Elementary School 
  • April 18-22 2009: Unit Review Team for Chaminade University’s Education Division, wrote elementary report for Hawaii Teacher State Board