Case Study: Connections Public Charter School achieves student empowerment and career‑ready tech skills with Adobe software

Connections Public Charter School, giving students a sense of purpose

Connections Public Charter School in Hilo, Hawaii, serves a diverse K–12 student body—over three quarters of whom live in poverty—and launched the after-school Studio Shaka program to link students’ cultural knowledge with technology. The school struggled to provide industry-standard creative tools and sought ways to boost motivation, keep students engaged, and develop college- and career-ready tech skills.

A ConnectED grant from Adobe supplied Captivate, Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements, and Presenter, enabling project-based learning where students produce photos, videos, websites, and multimedia projects. As a result, Studio Shaka members gained practical digital skills, leadership opportunities, confidence, and pride in culturally relevant work—improving engagement, college/career readiness, and community involvement.

Connections Public Charter School

John Thatcher

Principal and CEO, Connections Public Charter School