Aloha, HIDOE Community –
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Ho‘oha‘aheo Newsletter.
2025 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year finalists
Every year the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education recognizes one outstanding teacher from each of our 15 complex areas and one charter school teacher of the year. An overall winner will be announced as the 2025 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year in October and go on to represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program.
This year’s honorees are being recognized for their innovative approaches to cultivate high-quality environments of teaching and learning where students thrive. Their passion and dedication to student success helps to elevate our students, staff, schools and communities. Congratulations to all of these amazing teachers!
- Leah ʻAiwohi of Kauaʻi High (Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea complex area)
- Ian Cablay of Waialua High (Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua complex area)
- Tennelle Clark of Waiʻanae Elementary (Nānākuli-Waiʻanae complex area)
- Lauren Collier of Kāneʻohe Elementary (Castle-Kahuku complex area)
- Robin Cone-Murakami Barros of The School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS) (Public Charter Schools)
- Leah Gouker of Pāhoa High (Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa complex area)
- Nicole Laeha of Kailua Intermediate (Kailua-Kalāheo complex area)
- Karla “Viviana” Martinez of Konawaena High (Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena complex area)
- Jessie O'Neill-Prest of Kīhei Elementary (Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihākoʻi-Maui complex area)
- Jaime “Kumu Eva” Palakiko of Lahainaluna High (Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokai complex area)
- Jonathan Peralto of Waiākea Intermediate (Hilo-Waiākea complex area)
- Jennifer Sato of Kūhiō Elementary (Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt complex area)
- Bryan Silver of Kalani High (Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani complex area)
- Erin Takamura-Luu of Red Hill Elementary (‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford complex area)
- Sherry Tenn of Waipahu High (Pearl City-Waipahu complex area)
- Kim Virtudazo of Campbell High (Campbell-Kapolei complex area)
Supporting our new teachers
In the spirit of Ne‘epapa: Strongest Together, the theme for the new school year, we have again partnered with DonorsChoose to offer all first- and second-year HIDOE teachers a $1,000 gift code to purchase supplies, books, technology or other classroom items they might need.
We want to welcome our new educators and understand that the needs of the students and classroom are continually evolving in your first years of this new profession. The unique gift code has been emailed to those who qualify and will remain active until Oct. 11.
Bus routes
We are working as quickly as we can to restore bus routes and alleviate the inconvenience it may be causing for families and students of the affected communities and will provide an update this week. We are currently expediting background checks for tour bus drivers to help with the shortage and operate school buses.
As shared in the House Education Committee informational briefing last Thursday, we are exploring several different options including implementing staggered start times at schools and finding ways for drivers to work on campus part-time between the morning and after-school bus shifts.
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