Rosenlee says more SPED teachers and staff needed statewide
In testimony before the Board of Education’s Student Achievement Committee Oct. 3, HSTA President Corey Rosenlee praised Superintendent Christina Kishimoto and the BOE for prioritizing improvements in special education services and said major improvements are needed in SPED.
“Closing the achievement gap will require the department to recruit and retain additional special education teachers to ensure that all special needs children are given a chance to succeed,” Rosenlee said in written testimony to the BOE.
Read the full story on Corey Rosenlee's testimony to the BOE about special education.
From Hawaii News Now: Some special education parents off to a rocky start with new schools superintendent
Related story from last month: Read the entire story about teachers speaking before the BOE on special education problems across the state.
Superintendent lays out initial plans
Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto laid out what she called "three high-impact strategies" to advance the goals of the DOE's Strategic Plan at the Board of Education's meeting October 3.
The proposals include teacher collaboration, which she defines as "Teachers continuously team to evaluate practice, design learning collaboratives, discuss student progress, identify community opportunities, and to mitigate challenges through change processes focused on highly effective, student-centered practices that improve the schools and raise student achievement."
The other strategies are student voice as well as school design, "to ensure that every student is highly engaged in a rigorous, creative and innovating academic curriculum, in their learning environment, and in powerful applied learning practices aligned to college and careers.
Read the 10 action items in the superintendent's plans for each of her priorities: teacher collaboration, student voice and school design.
Central and Leeward chapters in Komen Race for the Cure
Please join the members of HSTA's Leeward and Central Chapters at the Susan G. Komen, Race for the Cure, raising money for breast cancer awareness and research on Sunday, Oct. 15. Register or donate here. You can join team: HSTA Central.
Once you get to the site, you will be asked if you participated in the race before and then are able to register. Once you do that, you are given options to join an existing team. We are team: HSTA Central. There is a registration fee and additional donations are appreciated. More important, your company is welcomed! Bring your family and friends! Mahalo to Leeward Chapter President Amber Riel and Central Chapter President Kristi Miyamae for combining chapter forces for this event and others.
Hawaii Island teachers featured in DOE videos
Four Hawaii Island public schools and the Department of Education's Hilo/Waiakea District Office have produced short videos highlighting the collaborative work of teachers and principals at their schools. Click on the links below to watch the four- to five-minute videos. They are very inspiring!
Hilo Union Elementary
Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary
Waiakea Elementary
Waiakea High School
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a campaign that unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. The HSTA Youth, Human and Civil Rights Committee asks that HSTA members wear blue on each Monday in October to raise anti-bullying awareness.
Did you know that:
• Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year?
• Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying?
• About 17% of students in the U.S. report being bullied 2 to 3 times a month—or more—within a single semester?
Let’s all step up and take a stand against bullying. Wear blue Mondays in October and demonstrate your support!
NEA's Bully Free: It starts with me
Stevenson Middle teacher vying for $100,000 educational grant; public decides who wins
Patricia Morgan of Stevenson Middle School on Oahu has been named a finalist competing for a $100,000 educational grant from Farmers Insurance, and now the public gets to decide the winning proposals.
As a part of the insurer group’s Thank America’s Teachers Dream Big Teacher Challenge, Farmers Insurance is awarding five of the 15 finalists with educational grants to fund their ideas to help create a lasting and positive impact on their classrooms, schools and communities.
Morgan, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teacher, plans to curate an “Innovative Invention Imaginarium” program which incorporates laser cutting, Computer Aided Design (CAD) solar cars, and video game design. The grant money would go towards an Arduino kit, a STEM program for digital exploration and interaction. Community-based collaboration is also a part of Morgan’s vision. Once her middle schoolers grow accustomed to the 21st century tools, they’ll funnel their knowledge to the neighboring elementary school students through a mentorship program.
Watch a brief video of Patricia Morgan's classroom grant proposal.
Finalists’ proposals are available for public voting at ThankAmericasTeachers.com until Oct. 29.
Read a Civil Beat story about Patricia Morgan's classroom grant proposal.
HEA conducts professional development survey
The Hawaii Education Association is conducting a survey to help shape its professional development programs "by educators, for educators."
The purpose of this study is to collect information from professionals like you, to create relevant programs for the future of education in Hawaii. Your participation in this survey will support HEA's strategic planning efforts to ensure it is a viable and relevant organization for the future generation of educators, current educators and our retirees.
Take the HEA professional development survey through Oct. 20.
Read this letter from June Motokawa about the HEA survey.
Calling all educator-activists!
The quest for racial and social justice is more important now than ever! Amidst these trying political times, we must stand strong with our fellow brothers and sisters to advocate for equity for students, teachers and communities.
HSTA will host a series of peace circles around the islands to support relationship building and organizing power of educator-activists and community members dedicated to addressing inequity in their schools and communities. Peace circles, rooted in indigenous practices, focus on relationships as a key component to building unity prior to collective action. Participants will explore personal histories with injustice, examine current data related to injustices within our educational system, learn tools they can take back to their classrooms and workplaces, and network with others to create plans for change within their communities. Folks from traditionally under-represented groups, especially Hawaiians, Filipinos and Micronesians, are encouraged to sign up.
The first two peace circles will be held the following dates:
- Hawai'i Island (Hilo-Kea'au Elementary): Sunday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- O'ahu (Location TBD): Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please fill out this form to register now for Peace Circle events Oct. 29 in Hilo/Kee'au and Nov. 18 on Oahu.
Email HSTA Member Chris Santomauro with any questions at csantoma@gmail.com
Wear red for the Pet Walk Oct. 29
Here's your friendly, four-legged reminder that we wish to see all of you and your furry or feathered friends at the annual Hawaiian Humane Society Pet Walk on Sunday, October 29 at 8 a.m. at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park.
Please register at this link and wear your red HSTA shirt. We will be waiting to see you near the registration area at with pooches around 7:45 a.m.
For more info, contact HSTA Central UniServ Director Jeanine Tsuchiya at jtsuchiya@hsta.org.
Sign up for the 7th International Conference on Education and Social Justice Dec. 1 -3.
Fill out this nomination form for HSTA's Pono Award and turn it in to HSTA by Jan. 5, 2018.
Fill out this Friend of Youth Award nomination form and turn it in to HSTA by Jan. 5, 2018.
Membership Services
KONA Kona Chapter members: RSVP today for the Island $avings Plan workshop and receive a bento at the workshop Oct. 19.  MAUI Getting Started (Designed for millennials) Tuesday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. (lunch provided) Maui Arts and Cultural Center Hosted by our NEA MB Retirement Specialists, come find out about ERS, Social Security and other investment options. Seats are limited so please RSVP to Iris @ 808-951-7185 ext. 15.
 HSTA's Member Matters e-newsletter will take next week off while you are enjoying fall break. We will return Friday, Oct. 20 and 27. Look for our Benefits of Belonging e-newsletter on Friday, Nov. 3., which will highlight discounts, special HSTA workshops, seminars and many other member benefits.
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.
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