DoWEA Pacific announces 2027 District Teachers of the Year

The Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Pacific Region is pleased to announce its 2027 District Teachers of the Year.

Pacific East District, Mrs. Michelle Morales, Yokosuka Middle School

The DoWEA Pacific East District has selected Yokosuka Middle School educator Mrs. Michelle Morales as its 2027 District Teacher of the Year.

“Being named Pacific East District Teacher of the Year is incredibly humbling,” Morales said. “It means so much to me because it represents more than just my work.  It reflects the students, families, and colleagues I have been privileged to learn from every day. I am surrounded by incredible educators, so to be recognized among them is truly an honor. As someone who grew up attending DoWEA schools, it also feels very full circle. I see this recognition as a reflection of the values that were poured into me as a student and that I now try to pass on to my own students.”

Morales has taught mathematics to students in grades 5–8 at Yokosuka Middle School for the past five years. She is known for creating a classroom where high expectations are paired with strong support for every learner. By connecting learning to real-world experiences, incorporating interactive strategies, and fostering reflective discussion, she helps students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. Beyond the classroom, she serves as the advisor for both the National Junior Honor Society and Student Ambassadors.

Her teaching philosophy centers on the three R’s: relationships, relevance, and rigor.

“I genuinely believe everything starts with relationships,” Morales shared. “When students know you care about them as individuals, they are more willing to engage, take risks, and push themselves academically. Building those relationships allows me to make the standards and lessons relevant to their lives and experiences, especially for students who are navigating constant change. Once students see the value and purpose in what they are learning, the rigor naturally follows. They rise to high expectations because they feel supported, understood, and invested. For me, strong relationships create relevance, and relevance drives rigor.”

Drawing from her own experience as a military child, Morales understands the obstacles and opportunities common to military-connected students.

“Being a military‑connected student in DoWEA schools shaped me in ways I did not fully understand until I became a teacher,” she said. “I know what it feels like to be the new kid, to adapt quickly, and to say goodbye more often than you would like. Those experiences help me be more intentional about consistency, structure, and patience in my classroom. I understand how important it is to be a steady presence for students, and I never take that role lightly. I try to be the teacher I needed when I was younger: someone who listens, notices, and cares.”

A 20-year career educator, Morales holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University, she is dedicated to ongoing professional development.

Pacific South District Dr. Samy Fineman, Kadena Middle School

Dr. Samy Fineman, Video Production teacher at Kadena Middle School, has been selected as the 2027 Pacific South District Teacher of the Year.

A United States Air Force combat veteran and award-winning military broadcast journalist, Dr. Fineman leads Kadena Middle School Student Productions for grades 6-8 – a position he has held for the past nine years.

“Every day I come to work with excitement because I know I get to work with the best student broadcasters anywhere in the world,” Fineman said. “They work super hard, they learn new topics in video, and they push me to do more and more. When I first started teaching video, I didn't know it would blossom into this amazing program of students and alumni who have gone on to amazing things, but truly, being their teacher is one of the greatest honors in my life.”

A firm believer in the power of middle school Career and Technical Education, Fineman’s qualitative doctoral research highlighted the impact of early exposure to career pathways and the power to transform student trajectories from an early age. Under his leadership, Kadena Middle School students became the first in the agency to earn professional industry certifications in video editing in middle school. 

“When students have the ability to truly explore careers at a younger age, the result is more than just learning about a specific topic. The students have a chance to learn about what it takes to be part of a career.”

Dr. Fineman challenges students through authentic, real-world instruction. Through a nine-year partnership with the Kadena Force Support Squadron Marketing Department, students have the opportunity to participate in a weekly internship. Alumni of Kadena Middle School Student Productions have gone on to film school and become leaders in film and television.

“At KMS Student Productions, our slogan is ‘Training the Future of Broadcasting’ and when students have the chance to learn so much in middle school, they enter high school and college with years of experience over their peers,” Finemain said, noting the success of a former student who finished his college degree and began networking with people from a major animation studio to create a short film. “He credited his experience from middle school to pinpoint a specific area of media he wanted to study. The early introduction, through internships, job shadowing, real-world experience, and certifications makes all the difference.”

Dr. Fineman earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Gratz College, a master’s degree in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University, and bachelor’s degrees in Secondary English Education and Communications from Bowie State University and University of Maryland University College, respectively. 

Pacific West District Mr. James Cutter, Daegu Middle High School

Daegu Middle High School educator Mr. James Cutter has been named the 2027 Pacific West District Teacher of the Year. 

“Being named the Pacific West Teacher of the Year is a profound honor because it represents the collective work, trust, and support of my students, colleagues, and school community,” Cutter said. “This recognition affirms my belief in setting high expectations for students; but, knowing they already possess the ability to meet and exceed them. It reinforces the importance of meaningful artistic expression as an essential part of education, shaping not only skilled learners but fully realized individuals. A program built on collaboration, care, and excellence brings out the very best in students, and I am honored that this work has been recognized.”

Cutter teaches middle and high school music at Daegu Middle High School, where he joined the staff at the start of the 2025-26 school year. He joined DoWEA as a music teacher at Smith Elementary School, bringing experience as a performer, conductor, composer, adjudicator and educator across elementary, secondary, and collegiate settings.

“I was once a military-connected student in the Pacific region, and my first-grade concert in Misawa, Japan is a memory that still resonates with me today,” he shared. “Standing on stage sparked a love for music that I never imagined would shape my future. My teachers provided a foundation through music that offered consistency, belonging, and purpose; something every military-connected student deserves. Music creates connections that travel with students wherever they go, allowing them to build relationships, experience diverse cultures, and develop a strong sense of identity that contributes to who they become.”

In his classroom, Cutter prioritizes creativity and individualized learning, designing instruction that blends conceptual understanding, technical development, and expressive performance while meeting high musical standards. 

“Through music education, students develop far more than musical skills,” Cutter said. “They learn collaboration, self-discipline, resilience, creativity, and leadership, while also gaining tangible goal-setting skills and a strong sense of accomplishment through achieving those goals. Music provides students with a meaningful outlet for self-expression and artistic voice.

“Just as importantly, students learn how to transfer skills learned in music; such as perseverance, focus, and problem-solving, into other areas of their academic and personal lives,” he continued. “They experience failure as a natural part of the learning process and develop the confidence to self-reflect, recover from mistakes, and continue growing. Music education empowers students to strive for self-actualization while understanding that growth comes from effort, reflection, and resilience.”

Cutter holds a Master of Music in performance from New Jersey City University and a Bachelor of Music in education from the University of Memphis. He also completed Advanced Individual Training in performance through the United States Army School of Music. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Music in clarinet performance at the University of Memphis. 

“One of my most meaningful experiences with the 389th Army Band was performing in schools and engaging directly with local communities,” Cutter said. “We often performed in small ensembles, toured local areas, and interacted with students, emphasizing not only musical excellence but also service, connection, and expression. Those experiences showed me how powerful music can be as a shared language and a tool for storytelling.”

Each of the Pacific’s 2027 District Teachers of the Year will represent their districts in the running for 2027 DoWEA Teacher of the Year, which will be announced this fall.

The year of service for the 2027 District Teachers of the Year and the 2027 DoWEA Teacher of the Year will begin on January 1, 2027, and run through December 2027. The selection is made months before the term starts to allow the DoWEA candidate and other candidates from the 50 states and territories the time to participate in the National Teacher of the Year program, which selects a finalist in December. The current (2026) DoWEA Teacher of the Year's term runs through the end of December 2026.