BOE chooses Kishimoto as next schools superintendent

The State of Hawaii Board of Education announced Friday that it has selected Christina Kishimoto, Ph.D. as the next superintendent with a three-year contract.

HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said, “Now that the superintendent has been selected, we look forward to the opportunity to work with her to change our test and punish culture, improve the special education crisis, recruit and retain teachers and strengthen Hawaii’s career and technical education programs.”

“One of the most important things we are looking for is to create a strong relationship between the new superintendent and HSTA so we can work cooperatively to improve public education in Hawaii,” Rosenlee added. “Hawaii is a unique school system encompassing rural and urban as well as small and large schools. We hope the new superintendent will choose a strong local deputy to help her with our diverse culture and statewide school system.”

Rosenlee was interviewed by Hawaii News Now and KITV 4 Island News today and his comments will air on their 5 and 6 p.m. broadcasts tonight.

Read the entire story, including BOE's statement about Kishimoto's selection and the governor's reaction here.

Read our previous story with testimony from members of the public upset no one with experience in Hawaii was a finalist.

Read all the written testimony submitted to the BOE for May 11's meeting.

Watch the two superintendent finalists' remarks at the BOE's May 11 meeting as well as testimony about them and the search process. (35-minute video)

Teacher leaders speak out against millions in Trump budget cuts

HSTA leaders Dawn Raymond (Hilo Chapter president), Amber Riel (Leeward Chapter president) and Laverne Moore (Honolulu Chapter president) spoke out against millions of dollars in cuts to Native Hawaiian education programs proposed by the Trump administration in a story that lead the 10 p.m. newscast Thursday on Hawaii News Now. Trump wants to divert hundreds of millions in aid for public schools, which are attended by 90 percent of students nationwide, to voucher and tax credit programs benefiting parents and students in private and religious schools, which are attended by just 10 percent of the country's children.

Read or watch HNN's story about Trump's proposed cuts to Native Hawaiian education with reaction from three public school teachers.

Legislative summary: We had some wins

As many of you have probably heard, it was an interesting legislative session, to say the least. Our Constitutional Amendment made it far because of all of your action as members, but not quite far enough.

We had an important victory that allows more money to be used to install AC and other methods to combat hot classrooms. Nearly $500 million in new public school construction projects were approved by lawmakers this year.

Read a detailed summary of how public schools fared in the 2017 Legislature here.

Central Chapter honors best of the best

For the 28th year in a row, HSTA’s Central Chapter honored 29 teachers for representing the best qualities of the teaching profession during a Teacher Excellence Luncheon on May 6.

“It’s because of your passion, dedication and excellence that we celebrate you today!” said Kristi Miyamae, HSTA’s Central Chapter president.

Read the names and schools of the awardees from HSTA's Central Chapter's Teacher Excellence Luncheon.

Know your rights: Teacher performance ratings

In the month of May, many teachers are receiving their final performance evaluation rating under the Educator Effectiveness System (EES). Teachers who are rated less than effective must receive final notification no later than the third Friday in May (May 19)*.

To qualify for pay increases, a teacher must be rated effective or better. Any teacher who was streamlined this year would carry over their effective or better rating from prior years.

Charter policy statement gets NEA Board approval

The NEA Board of Directors voted unanimously in April to recommend the NEA Representative Assembly approve a new policy statement on charter schools this summer in Boston.

The new statement draws a line between charter schools that NEA will support and those it will not support. The four-page statement opens with: “The purpose of this policy statement is to make plain NEA’s opposition to the failed experiment of largely unaccountable privately managed charter schools while clarifying NEA’s continued support for those public charter schools that are authorized and held accountable by the local democratically elected school boards or their equivalent.”

Read the entire story about the NEA Board approving new charter policy statement.

Speak out: ESSA plan and STRIVE HI survey

The Hawaii DOE is seeking feedback on its draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and STRIVE HI accountability system update. ESSA requires all states to submit plans on how to meet the law’s requirements and manage federal funding.

Teachers’ voices are critical in crafting a plan and accountability system that support the classroom experience. As our state reflects on the condition of our school system, we must highlight the ideas of teachers entrusted to shape our children’s future.

The DOE’s ESSA plan and STRIVE HI survey can be found here.

To help you complete the ESSA survey, HSTA has composed these sample answers for each question.

You are welcome to copy and paste our suggestions into the space provided or create your own answers based on your professional expertise.

Teachers must be at the center of education policymaking. Please take five to ten minutes to complete ESSA Plan survey and share your vision of the schools our keiki deserve.

Your kokua is needed for a colleague

Kalaheo High Teacher Luseane Suliafu is an avid, dedicated and hard-working teacher. She had eye problems and the doctors couldn’t figure out what was going on. She went on medical leave in January of last year and then could not return to work with the doctor’s clearance for the 2016-17 school year. She has been on leave without pay since December 2016.

She was approved by the DOE Leave Sharing program for 86 days through May 30, 2017, but still needs donated leave days to recover and recuperate.

Log in to DOE's intranet system for a leave sharing application.

If you are interested in sharing your leave, click here for the leave sharing donation form.

Click here for leave sharing instructions.

Once you have completed the form, you may submit it electronically to the SASA at Kalaheo High School at Dominique_Silva/KALAHEOH/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us, fax it to 254-7907 or mail it to Kalaheo High School, ATTN: SASA, 730 Iliana Street, Kailua, HI 96734.
Mahalo!

Increase your skills and pay with HSTA PD! Enrollment underway

We are happy to announce HSTA's professional development summer courses are open for enrollment, with teachers teaching teachers. The courses include 21^st century learning, inclusion, STEM, environmental education, cultural-based education, classroom management and teacher leadership.

HSTA’s Summer Internship Program is available on Oahu and Maui and endorsed in a recent Lotus Notes email by the state superintendent. We are also offering level two of the summer intern program for those teachers who are currently teaching secondary CTE. Please also consider registering for the National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) Jump Start course that will help you understand the NBCT process and get you started towards receiving a five-year $5,000 stipend from the state.

Read more about HSTA PD courses and register here.

Schools have been paying for teachers to take HSTA courses and receive PD credits, since they take place outside of the workday. To take advantage of this great deal, please register yourself for the course (so that you secure a seat) and once your school sends us payment, we will process a reimbursement to you. Schools can use HSTA Vendor #021749

Institute Week dates set for 2018

Save these dates for Institute Days across the state next year:

Mon, Feb. 12       Oahu
Tues, Feb. 13      Kauai
Wed, Feb. 14       Molokai
Thur, Feb. 15       Maui and Lanai
Fri, Feb. 16   Hawaii Island

COME celebrate WITH US! May is Member Appreciation Month, and we’re thanking you for everything you do every day to help shape the future. Here’s how we’re celebrating you:

“31 DAYS OF GIVING” GIVEAWAY — enter daily through May 31, 2017 for a chance to win one of 400 prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize
THANK-YOU GIFTS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS — to help you save money all year long
INSPIRING VIDEOS — see the impact members have on their students

Don’t miss out! Come join the celebration at www.neamb.com/appreciation

NEA members SAVE 20% on Graduation and Father’s Day flowers and gifts

Celebrate Dads and grads with our best and brightest graduation flowers, keepsake gifts and gourmet treats from 1800Flowers.com or 1800Baskets.com. NEA members get 20 percent off their purchase! For more information and to place your order, go to www.neamb.com and look for 1800Flowers.com under the Discounts tab.

Up-to-date information on merchant discounts, shipping terms and WOW Points appears on the NEA Click & Save Web page at www.neamb.com/clickandsave and may change at any time. Don’t forget to use your WOW Points—they’re just like cash (100 WOW Points = $1; plus, no blackout dates and no expiration)!

Regal movie ticket deal for HSTA members

Buy 10 Regal movie tickets for $89.90. Dole Cannery Stadium 18, Windward Stadium 10, Pearl Highlands Stadium 12, Wharf Cinema Center (Lahaina). www.neamb.com/clickandsave

Subscribe to and follow HSTA's social media accounts

Be sure to subscribe to HSTA's YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram for the latest videos, photos and news about our Association and public schools in Hawaii.