Member Matters: State has $1B surplus as contract talks begin; EES update; Free McDonalds coffee for teachers in Sept; 4 teachers honored by Obama, 8-26-2016

As negotiations begin, state reports record $1B surplus  The state was holding a record-setting $1 billion general treasury cash surplus when it closed the books on last fiscal year, an extraordinary sum that likely will alter the course of contract negotiations as the state and counties begin a new round of bargaining with Hawaii’s public employee unions, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday. Wes Machida, director of the state Department of Budget and Finance, said the estimated $1 billion surplus for the year ending June 30 is the largest he can recall, and said the state was able to accumulate that large cash cushion by restricting state departments’ spending even as state tax collections exceeded the official projections. "For years, the state has balanced its books on the backs of our members by claiming poverty while other units were rewarded with higher pay," said HSTA Negotiations Committee Chair Osa Tui, the registrar at McKinley High. "At the same time, our members have had to jump through hoops to prove their effectiveness and have not been compensated accordingly. Now that the coffers are full, the state needs to respect our profession and make amends with our members." Please finish this Negotiations Compensation Survey by Monday, Aug. 29 HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said Hawaii has a “teaching crisis” because Hawaii teachers are underpaid, which led to 625 teaching vacancies at the start of the school year. “To continually underpay your teachers to the point where we don’t have teachers is a tragedy for the state, and so because they have this surplus, they need to start investing in our schools,” Rosenlee said. HSTA and the state exchanged initial proposals in their first negotiations session Aug. 15.   Contract advisory: Educator Effectiveness System Click here for an important EES update with FAQs Changes to the Educator Effectiveness System (EES) for this school year eliminated the mandatory requirement for student assessment scores to be used as a component for teacher evaluation. The change in policy opened the door for the HSTA to modify its contract language requiring the use of test scores. The Board of Education policy and contract changes led to changes in the EES process for school year 2016-2017. At the same BOE meeting where EES policy changes were approved in May, the EES Joint Committee submitted recommendations for changes. From there, Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi made the final decisions on possible EES changes. In mid-June the HSTA and our Joint Committee members were provided a draft of the new EES manual. In response, the HSTA provided six pages of feedback and concerns regarding the pending changes to the EES process and procedures. The DOE made some modifications to the manual based on HSTA’s feedback and then rolled out the final changes in the EES system. Read the EES Manual for 2016-2017 here. Watch the DOE's EES video here The HSTA wants members to know that while we acknowledge that the superintendent has the final say on the design and implementation of the EES, we have serious concerns and do not agree with all the superintendent’s EES changes. Specifically, the HSTA does not support the change that requires an unsatisfactory rating on a teacher’s observation/working portfolio or core professionalism component to result in an overall unsatisfactory rating on the entire teacher practice rating. We believe that each section of teacher practice should be rated individually and calculated accordingly. Click here for an important EES update with FAQs   Who is the Membership Services Committee?  The committee is composed of fellow teachers who represent all 12 chapters as well as retirees. Their goal is to help support you in your professional and personal lives by providing new educator meetings, member benefits, and pre-retirement workshops. They also work closely with the HSTA VEBA Trust to promote products that will help ensure the health and well being of you and your family.   Hawaiian Telcom delivers state-of-the-art TV service and Hawaii’s fastest Internet with speeds up to 1 Gig at amazing prices. With free installation, a 30-day money back guarantee and no contracts, you can’t lose. Switch now and save an additional 10 percent off TV and Internet service with your HSTA membership.  Call 643-3456 today.   Benefits of Belonging  New educators, come find out how HSTA supports you!   Get connected to:  Our HSTA community and member benefits HSTA VEBA Trust insurance plans and protection  Our HYPE (Hawaii Young Professional Educators) program for new educators Professional development courses https://pd.hsta.org/events-training/ Benefits of Belonging meetings will be held: Thursday, Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m. Location: Maui High School Library, 660 Lono Ave., Kahului, Maui Sign up for Maui Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m. Location: Hookele Elementary School, 511 Kunehi St., Kapolei, Oahu Sign Up for Kapolei Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 20, 4 p.m. Location: HSTA Headquarters, 1200 Ala Kapuna St., Honolulu, Oahu Sign Up for HSTA/Red Hill Benefits of Belonging Friday, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m. Location: Sodexo, UH Hilo Dining Hall, Hilo, Hawaii Island Sign Up: Email Debra Borges atdeblani29@yahoo.com Monday, Sept. 26, 4 p.m. Location: Mililani High School HQuad, 95-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani, Oahu Sign Up for the Mililani Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. Location: McKinley High School Library, 1039 South King St., Honolulu, Oahu Sign Up for the McKinley Benefits of Belonging    While we all hope our members will remain healthy throughout their working years, the reality is we don’t know when we may become ill or injured and run out of paid sick leave days. The HSTA VEBA Trust is committed to HSTA members and offers a Short Term Income Protection plan especially for Active HSTA Members. As an added benefit, the HSTA VEBA Trust will subsidize up to $10 of the monthly premium for members who enroll in and maintain the maximum coverage they are eligible for. To learn more about this plan, visit our website atwww.hstaveba.org or call the HSTA VEBA Trust office at 440-6940 (Oahu) or 1-800-637-4926 (Neighbor Islands). McDonald’s of Hawaii celebrates teacher appreciation by giving teachers free coffee in September When: Every Tuesday in September  What: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii honors teachers with "Teacher Appreciation Month" in September Where: All participating McDonald's Restaurants in Hawaii    Details: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii wants to thank teachers for all they do for our keiki. During the month of September, teachers will get a free medium cup of hot or iced McCafe® Royal Kona Blend every Tuesday at participating McDonald's locations in Hawaii. No purchase necessary Teachers must present their valid 2016 school ID upon ordering Limit one free cup of coffee per person, per visit Offer dates:  Tuesdays: Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27 Offer times:  Entire day Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Info ERS brown bag sessions will be held for members of different retirement plans this fall on Oahu. Members can attend brown bag sessions from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the City Financial Tower, ERS office, 201 Merchant St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, on the following dates based on their type of plan: Non-Contributory Plan: Thurs., Sept. 8 Contributory Plan: Thurs., Sept. 22 Hybrid Plan: Thurs., Oct. 20 If you live on the neighbor islands, get in touch with your island's ERS representative for more information. 2016 fall retirement filing schedule  Thinking of retiring?  Schedule your ERS counseling appointment now. ERS recommends you attend a pre-retirement informational session at least one year prior to your anticipated retirement date. Contact ERS approximately six to seven months before your retirement date to schedule a counseling appointment at the ERS' office.  For more information contact (808) 586-1735 or visit http:ers.ehawaii.gov under “Members>Retirement Planning” To retire Oct. 1, you must file by Sept. 1 To retire Nov. 1, you must file by Sept. 30 To retire Dec. 1, you must file by Nov. 1 To retire Dec. 31, you must file by Dec. 1   Speak out for school improvements in ESSA survey; ESSA Town Hall set for Saturday on Molokai Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the current state of public education in Hawaii and the ways in which you think it should be transformed. This is a teachers survey put together by Gov. David Ige's Every Student Succeeds Act Task Force. Take the brief teachers' ESSA survey here. It's important that the task force hears compelling stories from the classroom front lines by people in the best position to know what needs to change at the Department of Education: public school educators. Only two of the 19 members of the task force are public school teachers. Please make time to show up and be heard at the upcoming ESSA meetings nearest you. Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kaunakakai Elementary School, Molokai Wed., Sept. 7, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Maui High School, Maui Wed., Sept. 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Castle High School, Oahu Thurs., Sept. 8, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lanai High and Elementary School, Lanai Wed., Sept. 14, 6 to 8 p.m., Moanalua High School, Oahu For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14. Celebrate Peace Day with events on Hawaii Island and Oahu Sept. 24 HSTA's Youth, Human and Civil Rights Committee encourages teachers to celebrate the 2016 International Day of Peace by promoting peace education within their classrooms and conducting a peace education activity with their students. This year's theme for Peace Day, celebrated worldwide on Sept. 21, is The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace More information on the UN's Peace Day events • Peace Poster Contest Students and teachers from around the globe will be urged to express their own interpretation of this year’s Peace Poster Contest theme: “Peace = Future.” For more on the Peace Poster Contest, click here. Hawaii Peace Day Events • Island of Oahu, Pearl City Sat., Sept. 24, 2016 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. This year, Peace Day Hawaii will be held on the grounds of the Urban Garden Center, 955 Kamehameha Hwy., Pearl City, Oahu. For more info on the Oahu Peace Day event, click here. • Island of Hawaii, Honokaa Peace Day Parade Sat., Sept. 24, 2016 4 p.m. Mamane Street; entertainment to include marching bands, taiko drummers, hula, bon dancers, cirque performers and multicultural music and entertainment. Peace Day Festival, Honokaa Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 5 - 7 p.m. For more info on Big Island Peace Day events, click here.   Hawaii teachers recognized by president for excellence in math, science President Barack Obama recognized four Hawaii public school teachers Monday as recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The teachers will receive $10,000 each from the National Science Foundation and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities. “The Hawaii State Teachers Association is so proud that four of our members have gained national recognition for the excellent work they are doing with public school students,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “They represent the very best and we send our congratulations for their classroom leadership in science and math.” The award recipients are as follows: Eliza Akana Yoshida, Puu Kukui Elementary (K-6 Math awardee) Stan Mesina, August Ahrens Elementary (K-6 Science awardee)  Alicia Nakamitsu, Aiea High (7-12 Math awardee)  Bryan Silver, Kalani High (7-12 Science awardee) Read more about the 4 Hawaii teachers who won presidential honors in math, science   Know your rights: teacher protection Your contract requires the employer to provide “legal counsel for teachers who are sued for actions taken by them in the course of their employment and within the scope of their duties and responsibilities” (Article X, page 47). In addition to the contract requirements, the HSTA and National Education Association (NEA) membership entitles teachers to $1 million of professional liability insurance through the HSTA/NEA Educators Employment Liability (EEL) insurance program. Your coverage is worldwide, includes coverage on and off school grounds, and is in force 24 hours a day, as long as you are performing your educational employment activities.   For more details on the EEL program, click here You may also contact your local HSTA office for more information.   Read the Hawaii Edition of NEA Today that arrived in your mailbox this week  What kinds of similarities does the Kapolei Middle School librarian honored by the White House see between being a librarian and a musician? Hawaii's teacher of the year grappled with whether to flash the shaka when she met President Barack Obama. What she decided, and why. Excerpts on whole child education as well as retention and recruitment from Schools Our Keiki Deserve. A negotiations timeline. What's involved in the bargaining process? Read those stories and more in the summer edition of NEA Today. Please finish this Negotiations Compensation Survey by Monday, Aug. 29 Click here for an important EES update with FAQs Read the EES Manual for 2016-2017 here. Watch the DOE's EES video here Take the brief teachers' ESSA survey here. For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14. For more on the Peace Poster Contest, click here. For more info on the Oahu Peace Day event, click here. For more info on Big Island Peace Day events, click here. For more details on the EEL program, click here Read more about the 4 Hawaii teachers who won presidential honors in math, science

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

HSTA Hilo Chapter: August message, 8-25-2016

Hilo Chapter                         President’s Message                        August RA 2016 Aloha Colleagues, National Education Association Representative Assembly (NEA RA) 2016 in Washington, D.C. A total of 13 elected delegates from the Hilo Chapter attended the NEA RA in the nation's capital from July 2 through 7, 2016. The delegates voted on amendments, policy statements, new business items and resolutions. The delegates also voted for NEA officers and attended other scheduled events. Hillary Clinton addressed 7,500 delegates on July 5 at the NEA RA.             Political Activities                              Back home, we have been actively involved in sign waving, phone banking, and fundraising for our recommended candidates. We are happy to report that all of HSTA's recommended candidates were elected in the Primary Election.                                        Community Connection A personal invitation was sent to HSTA Hilo Chapter members to attend Gov. David Ige’s Community Connection meetings in Hilo. Many teachers and community members showed up. It was a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of the issues facing our community. The educators and others who attended were also able to ask questions and speak about their concerns on specific topic areas that were presented in break-out sessions. Left to right: Wil Okabe, governor's liaison for East Hawaii, Dawn Raymond, HSTA Hilo Chapter president, Gov. David Ige. Next RA Oct. 25 Kea’au High School Library 5 to 6:30 p.m. Next HSTA Board of Directors Meeting Oct. 22       TUESDAYS WEAR RED FOR ED! We will make school visits throughout the year. If there is anything we can help you with, please contact our HSTA Hilo Office at 808-935-9301 or any one of your officers at the email addresses provided below:                                             President, Dawn Kiyoko Kainoa Raymond dkiyokohsta@gmail.com Vice President, Christopher Ho christopherho.hsta@gmail.com                                            Secretary, Karen Kohagura kkohagura@hotmail.com Treasurer, Cheney Kaku ckkaku@gmail.com Board of Director, Val De Corte val.decorte@hawaiiantel.net We look forward to working with each one of you, and wish you all a great school year. Dawn Kiyoko Kainoa Raymond President, HSTA Hilo Chapter

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Community Town Hall Meeting and HSTA WIS Lunch Meeting Thank You, 8-24-2016

Thank you to the teachers, parents, administrators, and students who attended the COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETING on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Waiakea High School cafeteria! The Waiakea community provided input on Governor Ige's blueprint for public education in Hawaii. 

Thank you to our Titan colleagues who met and spoke with Corey Rosenlee (HSTA President), Dawn Raymond (Hilo Chapter President), and Rae Yamanaka (UniServ Director) today during lunch recess at WIS. You shared your valuable time and they really appreciated hearing from you. Together, we can speak up, be heard, listen, express ourselves, and make a difference.

The ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) is the new federal law that replaced No Child Left Behind.

ESSA-- the EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT 

• States have the freedom to choose their own standards for their students.
• States have an opportunity to use alternative assessments (instead of standardized tests, project-based learning can be the measure of success).
• States can select an indicator by which their school can be evaluated.
• States may choose how to define "a good teacher."
• States may apply for grants that will enable schools to offer all kinds of services to students and their communities (known as "wrap around services").

For more information, go to Gov. Ige's website: http://governor.hawaii.gov/essa-team/

HSTA Hilo Chapter Representative Assembly (RA) Meeting, 8-23-2016

HSTA Hilo Chapter Representative Assembly (RA) Meeting Agenda

Kea'au High School Library
5:00 pm -6:30 pm
August 23, 2016

Notes (in blue) submitted by Joy Grabar

I. Call to Order/Introductions 

II. Approval of Minutes
See HSTA bulletin board for the Attendance and RA Meeting Minutes, May 19, 2016 

III. Reports
A. President, Dawn Raymond & Board Director, Val De Corte
B. Treasurer, Cheney Kaku  
See HSTA bulletin board for the CHAPTER BUDGET for Fiscal Year 2016-2017

C. Membership-- Debra Borges & Edwin Kagawa
See HSTA bulletin board for the Membership Committee Report, August 23, 2016 re:
1. Membership Enrollment card for new hires
2. NEA New Educator Campaign goal: One-on-one conversations with every new educator and obtain information on how HSTA can support them.
3. New Hire Orientation, Sept. 10 for Kea'au, Ka'u, Pahoa (KKP) Complex, location TBD
4. "Benefits of Belonging" New Teacher Dinner, Sept. 23 for ALL new teachers in the Hilo Chapter
5. New Partnerships for discounts
a. Island Insurance is offering a chance for $400 prize by requesting an auto quote (a flyer will be placed in your school mailbox)
6. Professional Development Classes: see green and blue flyers or www.pd.hsta.org for all available classes. These are classes you may use for reclassification with principal approval.

D. Negotiations Committee--Evette Tampos & Aaron Kubo
See HSTA bulletin board for the Negotiations Committee Report, Aug. 23 re:
1. Please encourage members to take the COMPENSATION SURVEY, which is linked in the Member Matters email sent out on August 15 & 19.
2. Wear RED on TUESDAYS to show support for the Negotiations Team and Collective Bargaining Power. Send messages of support and photos of teachers in red to negotiations@hsta.org
3. Questions/concerns about negotiations can be emailed to Evette Tampos or Aaron Kubo at HiloNeg@hsta.org

E. Government Relations--Kawai & Hope McKeen
See HSTA bulletin board for the GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT, August 23, 2016 re:

Thank you to everyone for the outstanding work. All endorsed candidates won their Primary Election.

1. Senate Race: District 1: Kaiali'i Kahele (D); District 2: Russell Ruderman (D)

2. House of Representatives: District 1: Mark Nakashima (D); District 2: Clift Tsuji (D); District 3: Richard Onishi (D); District 4: Joy San Buenaventura (D)

3. Suggestions:

3a. Conduct sign-waving prior to RA meetings

3b. Invite our candidates to RA meetings for question-answer sessions prior to the Nov. 8 election.

4. Voter Registration: You can still register to vote for the Nov. 8 General Election; applications need to be postmarked to County Clerk's office by Oct. 10, 2016 by individual teachers

5. PAC Giveaway Program--Election 2016: Refer to the handout

6. Sign-waving will resume in October, 4:30 - 5:30 pm in downtown Hilo, Bayfront, near or acros the statue. Please wear RED.

7. Remember: "Every educational decision is a political decision."

F. Teacher Institute--Christopher Ho

See HSTA bulletin board for the Institute Committee Agenda Report re:
1. Date of Teachers' Institute Day is FEBRUARY 16, 2017
2. Structure of Institute Day: Check-in, Vote, General Session, Breakout Sessions, Vendors
3. Location: Kea'au High School--see bulletin board for details
PLEASE PARK IN MARKED STALLS ONLY. Do not part in parking reserved for office staff, Athletic Director, Athletic Trainors, behind the cafeteria, and behind gates. 
4. Survey--
==> bit.ly/HiloInstituteSurvey
Data collected will assist the committee in creating an outstanding Institute Day program for all teachers. Survey is anonymous.
5. Committee members: Jojo LaForge; Kathy Lott; Uwelani Hough, and Roxy Stewart

IV. Guest Speaker-- State President, Corey Rosenlee
See HSTA bulletin board for information re:
1. ESSA Task Force Town Hall Talking Points
2. See nea.org/gps.indicators for components of great school chart

V. Uniserv Director-- Rae Yamanaka
See HSTA bulletin board for information re:

1. HILO UniServ Report

2. CONTRACT ADVISORY, Re: HSTA SETTLES CLASS GRIEVANCE FOR $2,000 LUMP SUM BONUS

3. Know Your Rights: Work Time Distribution

4. THE DUTY OF FAIR REPRESENTATION 

5. Employee's Right to Union Representation

6. NEA 2016-2017 Student Rebate Application

7. HYPE: Hawaii Young Professional Educators network

8. Hilo HSTA: Got Questions? Where to Go For Help

VI. Announcements

1. Next RA meeting: October 25, 2016, Kea'au High School Library, 5:00 pm

2. NEA RA recap-- Christopher Ho

VII. Group Break-Outs

VIII. Adjournment

Notes submitted by Joy Grabar, Head Faculty Representative

Talk story with Corey Rosenlee, Dawn Raymond, and Rae Yamanaka during LUNCH RECESS on WED. AUG. 24 at Waiakea Intermediate School, 8-19-2016

We invited them, and they will visit WIS!

Wednesday, August 24^th during Lunch Recess
Library Teachers' Workroom (Confirmed!)

Come, talk story with our HSTA Leaders

[scroll down to read more updates, 8-23-2016]

Corey Rosenlee, 
HSTA State President,

Dawn Raymond, 
Hilo Chapter President, 
& 
Rae Yamanaka, Hilo UniServ Director 

Waiakea Intermediate School

LUNCH RECESS

Light refreshments!

Guests will be here before lunch recess and will stay afterwards so that all WIS teachers may meet and chat with our union leaders. Please stop by.

THIS EVENING: ESSA COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETING, Waiakea High School cafeteria, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

Share your ideas with GOVERNOR IGE's education team and impact his blueprint for public education in Hawaii. 

ESSA is the new Federal law that replaced No Child Left Behind. 

Did you know?  

ESSA-- the EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT . . .

• NOW states have the freedom to choose their own standards for their students.
• NOW states have an opportunity to use alternative assessments (instead of standardized tests, project-based learning can be the measure of success).
• NOW states can select an indicator by which their school can be evaluated.
• NOW states may choose how to define "a good teacher."
• NOW states may apply for grants that will enable schools to offer all kinds of services to students and their communities (known as "wrap around services").

NOW is the time for your voice to be heard at the . . .

COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETING

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016

4:30 - 6:30 pm

Waiakea High School Cafeteria

For information, see Gov. Ige's website: http://governor.hawaii.gov/essa-team/

MAKE A DIFFERENCE, GET INVOLVED. BE THE VOICE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. 
IF YOU DON'T SPEAK UP, THEN WHO WILL? ATTEND TONIGHT AND SHOW THE GOVERNOR HOW WE TEACHERS MATTER IN THE SUCCESS EQUATION OF OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATION. LET'S HAVE 100% ATTENDANCE. GO WAIAKEA TITANS!

Member Matters: Negotiations update; compensation survey; NBCT program; New ESSA task force dates on Lanai and Kauai, 8-19-2016

HSTA negotiations team holds first talks with state Bargaining for a new contract began Mon., Aug. 15 when both sides met for the first time in a three-and-a-half hour session at Hawaii State Teachers Association headquarters. Both sides exchanged initial proposals. HSTA's negotiations team will meet Aug. 26 to analyze the employer's initial proposals and preliminary responses from the Association's teacher compensation survey. The Negotiations Committee will also meet Sat., Aug. 27 at HSTA. Please complete this Negotiations Compensation Survey by Friday, Aug. 26. HSTA's Negotiations Committee is chaired by Osa Tui (Honolulu), a member of the negotiations team which includes Paul Daugherty (Kona), Shannon Kaaa (Honolulu), Diane Mokuau (Molokai) and Corey Rosenlee (HSTA president). Also representing HSTA at the bargaining table were its Chief Negotiator Andrea Eshelman, Executive Director Wilbert Holck and Negotiations Specialist Ray Camacho. At the table for the state were Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, Deputy Superintendent Stephen Schatz, Board of Education Chair Lance Mizumoto, BOE Member Maggie Cox and James Nishimoto, the director for the Department of Human Resources Development and acting state chief negotiator. Watch this video presentation of HSTA's contract proposals.   Know your rights: teacher protection Your contract requires the employer to provide “legal counsel for teachers who are sued for actions taken by them in the course of their employment and within the scope of their duties and responsibilities” (Article X, page 47). In addition to the contract requirements, the HSTA and National Education Association (NEA) membership entitles teachers to $1 million of professional liability insurance through the HSTA/NEA Educators Employment Liability (EEL) insurance program. Your coverage is worldwide, includes coverage on and off school grounds, and is in force 24 hours a day, as long as you are performing your educational employment activities.   For more details on the EEL program, click here You may also contact your local HSTA office for more information.   Speak out for school improvements in ESSA survey; new ESSA town halls set for Kauai, Lanai; new time, location on Molokai Gov. David Ige and his Every Student Succeeds Act Task Force are seeking teacher input about the blueprint that will shape the direction of change and lay the foundation for the educational system we seek to create. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the current state of public education in Hawaii and the ways in which you think it should be transformed. Take the brief teachers' ESSA survey here. There are only two teachers on the 19-member task force, which is working to come up with recommendations to improve education in Hawaii and adjust to the new federal education law that was approved in late 2015. HSTA would like to make sure the others on the task force hear compelling stories from the classroom front lines by people in the best position to know what needs to change at the Department of Education: public school education. For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. Please make time to show up and be heard at the upcoming ESSA meetings nearest you. Mon., Aug. 22, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Waimea High School, Kauai Wed., Aug. 24, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Waiakea High School, Hawaii Island Wed., Aug. 24, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Kauai Sat., Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kaunakakai Elementary School, Molokai Wed., Sept. 7, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Maui High School, Maui Wed., Sept. 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Castle High School, Oahu Thurs., Sept. 8, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lanai High and Elementary School, Lanai Wed., Sept. 14, 6 to 8 p.m., Moanalua High School, Oahu   HSTA's two ESSA task force members offer advice on legal and policy possibilities under new federal law Last year's teacher of the year, Catherine Caine and HSTA secretary-treasurer Amy Perruso are the two teachers who serve on the state's ESSA task force. Caine, a fourth grade teacher at Waikiki Elementary, and Perruso, a social studies teacher at Mililani High School, have drawn up some specific policy and legal possibilities within ESSA for public school teachers, based on what they've heard from front-line teachers so far. In a two-page summary that was distributed at the Summer Leadership Training, they talk about several key areas, including: Professional respect and empowerment Less testing and more learning Public schools as sites of democratic decision-making  Public schools as site for social justice These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14.   Attention board-certified teacher candidates: free support! Candidates for National Board certification are invited to register for year-long candidate support. These sessions provide a supportive and collaborative learning environment led by National Board Certified Teachers. There is no cost to HSTA members! To register for free NBCT support sessions, click here. There will be six two-hour sessions scheduled for each cohort. Sessions include an overview of the National Board process, detailed information for each component and time for candidates to share, peer review, and reflect. Deadline to register is Sept. 16. Cohorts will be formed geographically across the state after registration closes. Please complete this Negotiations Compensation Survey by Friday, Aug. 26. Watch this video presentation of HSTA's contract proposals. For more details on the EEL program, click here Take the brief teachers' ESSA survey here. For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14. To register for free NBCT support sessions, click here.

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

WIS's SLLs for SY 2016-2017, Roles and Emails

Waiakea Intermediate School's 

School Level Leaders (SLL)
SY 2016-2017

Roles and Emails

Head Faculty Representative (HFR):   Joy Grabar  hstajgrabar@gmail.com

Association Policy Committee (APC) Members:

     Kim Aburamen          abu_96720@yahoo.com 

     Joy Grabar                 hstajgrabar@gmail.com

     Chad Lawson             lawson9@gmail.com

Grievance Representative (GR):  
     Debbie Anderson       debbievida@gmail.com

At-Large Representatives:

     Randall Kaya             email forthcoming

     Wendy Pasalo            email forthcoming

Reminder: We encourage you to use your PERSONAL EMAIL for all hsta-related correspondence. Prudent practice protects you and your rights. Use lotus email for work-related correspondence only.