Na Makamae: Gidget, Tūtū and Me January 31, 2019

The end of January marks the start of our monthly Na Makamae segment, when we recognize employees who are doing tremendous work with the children and families they serve.

‘Na Makamae’ refers to those who are prized, highly valued, highly appreciated. Na Makamae are those who are endeared to us.

Our first Na Makamae is Gidget, one of our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool’s Lead Teachers. She has been with Tūtū and me for 15 years and is a much-loved familiar face to the tūtūs and other caregivers who frequent the Kahaluʻu and Makakilo sites on Oʻahu.

“Gidget is one of the hardest working people that I know,” said Amy, an assessment specialist with Tūtū and Me and a member of Gidget’s team. “She dedicates her whole life to this job and you can see it in the way that she works with the families.”

Lei Furtado is Tūtū and Me’s data and operations manager, and she has known Gidget for almost 10 years. She recounted a time last year when Gidget was part of the Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool group that participated in last year’s Aloha Festival Floral Parade.

“It was almost like it was the Gidget parade,” Lei laughs. As they walked from Ala Moana to Waikīkī, many parents and keiki were calling out to her. “She’s built so many strong relationships while she’s been at Tūtū and Me.”

Mahalo nui loa, Gidget, from the entire PIDF ʻohana!