Administration
Justin Mew
Head of School
Justin Mew has served as Principal of Niu Valley Middle School since February 2006. Within a few weeks of his appointment, he made it a goal to have Niu Valley Middle School a source of pride for its students, alumni and community by providing the very best public school education, as an Authorized World School of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Four years later, the goal was realized when the authorization was granted by the Director General. Niu Valley Middle School has earned the title, “IB World School,” authorized to deliver Levels 1-3 of the IB Middle Years Programme. Mr. Mew was certified as an IB Head of School in November 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada by SEBIQ: La Societe des Etablissements du Baccalaureat International du Quebec.
He is a Hawaii public school graduate (University of Hawaii at Manoa, Bachelor’s of Education, 1980. Masters of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, 1982; Educational Administration, 1988. Graduate Certificate, Telecommunications and Information Resource Management, 1991). Roosevelt High School, Class of 1975.
Mr. Mew’s professional career included: Principal, Aina Haina Elementary (3 years), State Science Educational Specialist (12 years). Vice Principal (Aiea Intermediate, Moanalua Intermediate, three years). Science teacher (Kaimuki High, 8 years). His volunteer work centered around the Nuuanu YMCA and the American National Red Cross.
He has spoken at three national forums: (1) National Science Teacher Association National Conference, Anaheim, CA, 1993. (2) National Science Supervisor Association National Conference, Washington, D.C., 1995. (3) U.S. Department of Education Title II National Conference, Washington, D.C., 2000. He has also sat on two national committees: Reauthorization of Title II, Washington, D.C., 2000. Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching Selection Committee: 1994, 1996, 1998.
During the summer of 2009, he was an invited speaker at the Summer Leadership Symposium, held at the Hawaii Convention Center, co-sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Education and the International Center for Leadership in Education. Principal Mew has also served as lecturer and rater for school administrator trainees (e.g., ACE Program).
Awards Given: 2010 Hawaii Middle School Principal of the Year (National Association of Secondary School Principals/MetLife); First YMCA Hero Award, 1997 for Outstanding leadership and service to the YMCA of Honolulu. Who’s Who in American Education (National Reference Institute and Heritage Registry). Outstanding College Students of America. Outstanding Biology Teacher nominee, National Association of Biology Teachers. Outstanding Science Teacher, Hawaiian Science and Engineering Fair. Green and Gold Award, Kaimuki High School. Teacher of the Year Representative, Kaimuki High School.
A Hawaii Kai resident since 2000, he has been active in his children’s education, serving as Aina Haina School’s SCBM member, Niu Valley Middle School Music Boosters member, and Kaiser High School Band and Orchestra Boosters representative, as they matriculated through the Kaiser Complex.
In July 2008, Niu Valley Middle School earned “Candidate School” status by the International Baccalaureate, one step away from full authorization as a World School. On November 12-13, 2009, the IB Authorization Visiting team assessed both the Niu Valley Middle site and the Kaiser High sites. That visit marked the third and final phase in the authorization process. A report was generated, then reviewed by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. As noted earlier, the decision was rendered to authorize Niu Valley Middle School as an IB World School, earning the distinction of becoming Hawaii’s first and only public middle school with that coveted title.
“We needed to increase the rigor of learning for our students and the expectations of ourselves as educators. Sanction by the International Baccalaureate Organization validated our work, providing instant, “brand name recognition,” respect and honor world-wide. We envision our students with options to participate on equal footing globally, nationally and locally.”
» Admin Blog
July 31, 2011
Mr. Justin Mew
Business Office Retrofitting Not Complete. Patience, Please
The Private Contractor has not completed retrofitting work to remove architectural barriers and meet new ADA requirements. General business office functions have moved back. However, the following office functions remain in the Library: Registrar, Vice Principal, PCNC, Health Room. There is no water or restrooms in the business office. We will continue to service the public.July 31, 2011
Mr. Justin Mew