TOY Honorees and Retirees, 2015-2016--Luncheon tickets still available!

Teacher of the Year Honoree & Retiree Luncheon, 2015-2016

Sunday, May 1, 2016, Nani Mau Gardens, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Participating Schools' Honorees and Retirees are noted in chart below. If you would still like to purchase a luncheon ticket, please inform Joy Grabar or Tabitha Booth as soon as possible!

	Honorees	Retirees
Connections		Shelly Ebersole Phyllis Cabral
Hawaii District Office	Nerie Padamada
Hilo High	Mari Nakamura	Sephen Nemeth Sidney Nozaki Jennifer Perry Erin Neizmen
Hilo Inter	Haunani Haasenritter
Hilo Union	Kelsie Valledor-Yoshida	Sandra Miyao Greta Pung Sharon Furstenwerth Sandra Miyao
Kapiolani	NA	Wynne Peralta Ceclia Kawabata Susan Spencer
Kaumana	Cathy Iwaoka	Cathy Iwaoka Diane Ortiz
Keaau Elem	Lori Tanaka	Wendy Roberts
Keaau High	Judith Elise Pratt	Claudia Calles David Calles
Laupahoehoe	Josie Harding
Mountain View	Hali'a Kai	Claire Fernandez
Na Wai Ola	Anna Aoki
Naalehu Elem	Mary LeGrandeur
Pahoa Elem	Amber Makuakane
Pahoa High	Ward Gardner	Margaret Kelleher Kerry Meyer
Volcano Arts Science	Heather Hand
Waiakea Elementary		Karen Shindo Shawn Paiva Ann Lau
Waiakea High		Colleen Ray
Waiakea Intermediate	Kim Aburamen	Sharon Iwasaki
Waiakeawaena Elementary		Ada Kubo Christine Ahia

RA Meeting 4-21-2016 Notes, posted 4-26, 2016

HSTA HILO CHAPTER Representative Assembly Meeting Agenda Notes

Kea’au High School
5:30 pm -7:00pm
April 21, 2016
Notes taken by Joy Grabar, posted 4-26-2016

Director: Val DeCorte (Hilo High)  val.decorte@hawaiiantel.net
President:  Edwin Kagawa (Keaau Middle) ekagawahsta@gmail.com
Vice President:  Dawn Raymond (Waiakea High)  Dray4774@hotmail.com
Treasurer:  Cheney Kaku (Hilo Intermediate  ckkaku@gmail.com
Secretary:  Karen Kohagura (Pahoa Elem)  kkohagura@hotmail.com
UniServ Director:  Rae Yamanaka  935-9301, ryamanaka@hsta.org

1. Meeting called to order – Edwin Kagawa
2. Help a Colleague in Need -- LeeAnn I.
1. Donna Banks, Hilo Union School, has cancer
2. Please donate sick days/vacation days
3. Leave Sharing Donation forms (completed) and info sheet in Workroom
3. Special Guest – Cliff Fukuda, NEA Director for HSTA
1. Shared NEA Newsletter (see on Bulletin Board in Workroom)
2. NEA endorses Clinton because of anti-high-stakes testing stance
4. President’s Report – Edwin Kagawa
1. Convention updates and acknowledgements
2. Encouraged all teachers to participate in EES Survey by May 1st
3. Click here to take the survey
5. Treasurer’s Report  
6. Board of Directors (BOD)  Report
7. Committee Reports: (to be reported as needed)
8. Elections –Lynn Kashinoki, Kerinne Smith
1. See Results of 2016 Hilo Chapter Elections (on Bulletin Board in Workroom)
9. Constitution, Bylaws and Resolutions (CBR) – Karen Kohagura, Cheney Kaku 
10. Government Relations –Kawaileleohi`ilawe, Hope McKeen
1. Interviews with government officials on-going
2. Endorsements to be announced on May 14th
11. Membership –Debra Borges
1. Excellence in Teaching Luncheon tickets are still available
2. Honorees and Retirees listed
3. 16 schools are participating
12. Negotiations –Evette Tampos, Aaron Kubo
1. All teachers are urged to complete EES Survey
2. EES Survey results will serve as data for negotiations
3. EES survey data is critical to show teachers' viewpoints on EES, contract issues
4. Survey closes May 1, 2016
5. Click here to take the survey
13. Youth, Human and Civil Rights (YHCR) –Tina Miyataki
14. Institute – Dawn Raymond, Christopher Ho (incoming)
15. New Business
16. Upcoming Events
1. Excellence in Teaching Luncheon – May 1
2. Community Activities
1. Special Olympics – April 23
2. NALC Food Drive – May 14
1. Volunteers needed to assist at the HILO POST OFFICE
2. Starts at 2 pm
3. Wear covered shoes
17. UNISERV Report/SLL Training –Rae 
1. Anticipate announcements re: Pacing Guides
2. NEGOTIATIONS WORK GROUP seeking participants 
1. CTE and SpEd Content Areas
2. Looking for 25 interested volunteers to address contractual concerns
3. Hilo Chapter could spearhead the initiatives if we have involvement
4. Submit queries to Rae 
3. Teacher Appreciation Week
1. first week in May
4. See Bulletin Board for information:
1. Professional Development courses: Summer & Fall 2016
1. Course list also available at www.pd.hsta.org
2. 2016-2017 Calendar 
3. If you are not yet registered to vote, please complete wiki wiki Voter Registration
18. Next RA Meeting: May 19, 2016 (5:30 pm) at Keaau High School
1. Last meeting with Edwin as Hilo Chapter President 

We never know when we are creating a memory. . . FIGHTING FOR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS...
YESTERDAY. . . TODAY. . . TOMORROW! A Child is More Than a Test Score. . . Put Keiki First… Thanks for all your help and support!

Help a Hilo Colleague in Need

Can you help a colleague in need?

Donna Banks from Hilo Union Elementary has had a reoccurrence of ovarian cancer.  Since her initial surgery in 2014, more tumors have been detected in her liver and other organs. She requests donations of sick leave/vacation days to help her in this time of need.

Donna is a 5th grade math teacher from Hilo Union on the Big Island. Before coming to Hilo, she worked at Kahalu'u Elementary on the Windward side of Oahu. 

Donna has been battling her prognosis through homeopathic and naturopathic treatments. She is focused on reestablishing healthy habits through exercise, organic foods, juicing, supplements, and a healthy mindset. 

Any help colleagues can provide by donating sick days would be very much appreciated.
On the HSTA Bulletin Board in the Teacher's Workroom, there is an information sheet and the completed Leave Sharing Donation Form. Mahalo.

How do you feel about EES? Please take this survey to voice your opinion for the HSTA NEGOTIATIONS team, posted 4-22-2016

Please Take Negotiations/EES Survey to Make Your Voice Heard
Just a friendly reminder, please make sure to take the survey on “teacher evaluation.”  With contract negotiations coming up in 2017, your negotiations committee wants to hear from you

Please remind your colleagues to take the survey, too. The survey will run through May 1, 2016. 
 
Click here to take the survey

Member Matters for April 22, posted 4-22-2016

Don't forget to finish any missed 21 hours of PD by end of school year Please remember teachers must make up any missed hours of professional development time (21 hours) before the school year ends to earn their three PD credits. The credits are important to some teachers for reclassification, which could mean thousands of dollars more a year in your paychecks. So please speak to your principal about rescheduling any missed PD before your last day of school. It’s especially important that any teachers who began work after the start of the school year or those who are on extended paid leaves of absence be sure they have obtained all their PD time. . Teachers gather for statewide convention Nearly 400 delegates from across the state gathered to discuss changes to bylaws and set the course of the union for the next year at the Hawaii State Teachers Association convention April 16 and 17 at the Hawaii Convention Center. “When we work together, we are able to accomplish great things,” said Corey Rosenlee, who presided over his first convention as HSTA president. “We are educators. We are the union. We are HSTA.” In a speech before the delegates, Rosenlee thanked “the state officers who make this union work.” Wilbert Holck, HSTA’s executive director, told delegates “I want us to build the most powerful labor union in the state of Hawaii whose members want to participate” in improving the lives of teachers. HSTA awards teachers, youth advocate  During this year's convention, HSTA gave its inaugural 2016 Pono Award for social activism to Laverne Fernandes Moore, a special education teacher at McKinley High School. Logan Okita, a first grade teacher at Nimitz Elementary School, won HSTA’s Award for Teaching Excellence, known as the STACY, celebrating the work of the late Stacy Nishina, an outstanding teacher and beloved HSTA staff member. This year’s HSTA Friend of Youth Award went to Ted Takamiya for his outstanding work with youth on Molokai. Read about Laverne Moore Read about Logan Okita  Read about Ted Takamiya  Take the association's survey on ESS Read about Laverne Moore, the winner of HSTA's first-ever Pono award Read about Logan Okita who won HSTA's STACY award Read about Ted Takamiya, HSTA's Friend of Youth 2016 winner 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 Focus Groups for CTE Teachers, posted 4-14-2016

Rae Yamanaka, Hilo UniServe Director
P: 935-9301
E: ryamanaka@hsta.org

To: WIS Colleagues

Subject: HSTA Focus Group for CTE Teachers

Email From: Rae Yamanaka

Date of email: April 12, 2016

Posted by: Joy Grabar

Hi all,

I am just returning to work from being out sick for the past three weeks.  During that time, there was a call from HSTA for CTE teachers to participate in focus group meetings .  Please see the message below;

Re:  HSTA Focus Groups for CTE teachers

WHAT: During our recent contract reopener in 2015, concerns regarding compensation for CTE teachers were brought up, leading to the establishment of a joint HSTA/DOE CTE teacher work group.   To aid in this process, the Negotiating Committee is putting together several focus groups.  HSTA will provide lunch or dinner, and mileage for participants.  We are looking for CTE teachers representing the six career pathways (not licensed teachers assigned to CTE-type teaching lines). We’ve attached information from the DOE website regarding the programs of study at the high school level.  http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/TeachingAndLearning/StudentLearning/CareerAndTechnicalEducation/Pages/home.aspx

1. Arts and Communications
2. Business
3. Health Services
4. Industrial and Engineering Technology
5. Natural Resources
6. Public and Human Services

WHEN:  The soonest would the 3^rd week of April through the summer.

WHERE:   CTE teacher Focus Groups will be set up in Honolulu, Leeward, and Hilo chapters. 

ACTION NEEDED: 

• Please send us their name, school, and contact information.
• Please inform them that either Ray or Patty will be contacting them for more background information, and to confirm their participation in a focus group discussion. 
• Because we are looking for a certain balance, not all that are referred to us will be invited to the focus group.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.  Thank you.

J

Ray Camacho / Patricia Arce

Negotiations Department

Hawaii State Teachers Association

1200 Ala Kapuna St.

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 833-2711 ext. 230

(808) 833-7106 Fax

Confidentiality Notice:  This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential HSTA privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. 

I am asking that you send this information out to your CTE teachers and have them contact Patty Arce at: parce@hsta.org if they are interested in being part of a CTE focus group.

Thanks very much,

rae

Rae A.Yamanaka

HSTA Hilo UniServ Director

Hilo Lagoon Centre

101 Aupuni St., ste.219

Hilo, HI  96720

Phone:  (808)935-9301 office; (808)365-6979 cell

Fax:  (808) 969-7492

Email:  ryamanaka@hsta.org

HSTA negotiated the first personal leave provision for public employees in1972.

What are Teachers Saying about EES?, posted 4-13-2016

Aloha HSTA Members, Over the past several years teacher evaluation and the Educator Effectiveness System (EES) have been hot topics, and will be further discussed at the bargaining table in 2017. Your Negotiations Committee is conducting this very important HSTA Membership survey focusing on teacher evaluation and needs to hear from you.  Click here to take the survey Please remind your colleagues to take the survey, too. The survey will run through May 1, 2016. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Mahalo! HSTA Negotiations Committee Osa Tui, Chair (Honolulu)                       Diane Mokuau, Vice Chair (Molokai) Paul Daugherty (Kona)                           Shannon Kaaa (Honolulu) Amanda Seymore (Central)                   Pauahi Kazunaga (Central) Ann Kaai (Leeward)                               Kathleen Muranaka (Leeward) Bea Derego (Windward)                       Micah Pregitzer (Windward) Allison Lee (Honolulu)                             Karen de Brum (Lanai) Karolyn Mossman (Maui)                       Janice Nishimura (Maui) Aaron Kubo (Hilo)                                   Evette Tampos (Hilo) Elizabeth Bauer (Kohala)                         Helene McTavish (Hamakua) Nathan Pontious (Kauai)   Take the 2nd Negotiations Survey The current HSTA contract

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

Member Matters for April 8, 2016, posted 4-8-2016

HSTA to Present "Schools Our Keiki Deserve" Report HSTA, alongside the Education Institute of Hawaii, will hold a public forum to release its "Schools Our Keiki Deserve" report. The report continues the conversation on ESSA and the changes that can and should happen under the new law. The teacher-authors will be on hand to present evidence supporting the ten principles in the campaign. There will be time for Q&A led by HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. When: April 12, 2016 Time: 4:30 - 5:30 pm Place: Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium, Ground Level Register to attend Volunteers needed to sort food donations HSTA to co-sponsor food drive on May 14 Each year, HSTA partners with the National Association of Letter Carriers for their annual food drive. This food drive ensures that local food banks will have enough food to meet the needs of every child who is lacking a nutritional meal during the summer months when school cafeterias are closed. HSTA has been a partner in this event for more than 20 years. Volunteers are needed on Oahu the the Big Island. On Oahu Volunteers are needed on May 14th to sort the food donations at the Hawaii Foodbank. Volunteers are needed in shifts from 4pm - 10pm. Use the volunteer form below to get more information and to kokua. In Hilo Volunteers are needed on May 14 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm at the Hilo Airport Post Office. Please use the volunteer form below to get more information and sign up.  In Kona Kona teachers who want to help should call Marshall Akamu at 808-322-1418 or marshall@hawaiifoodbasket.org. Their packing party will be all day from Monday, May 16 - Wednesday, May 18. The Kona Food Basket is coordinating the effort (79-1016A Honalo Road in Kailua-Kona). Download the volunteer application (Oahu) Download map to the Hawaii Foodbank (Oahu) Download the volunteer application (Hilo) Join in the fun & help the cause HSTA Oahu Chapters to Participate in Relay for Life HSTA's Oahu chapters are participating in the Relay for Life walk this weekend at the University of Hawaii. All HSTA members are invited to participate and/or donate to the team. So far, we are more than 80% toward our goal of $1,000. Any help is appreciated. Date: April 9th - 10th Time: 6pm - 6 am Place: University of Hawaii TC Ching Athletics Field Come on down, enjoy the camaraderie and participate in a very good cause. Sign up to walk or make a donation here Attend the HSTA launch of the "Schools Our Keiki Deserve" Report Volunteer for the National Letter Carriers food drive Sign up or donate to the Relay for Life event this weekend

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

A Message from HSTA President Corey Rosenlee on Employee Evaluations, posted 4-07-2016

Teachers are deeply committed to the success of every student. View this email in your browser   Colleagues:  Today, despite overwhelming evidence pointing to its ineffectiveness, the Department of Education announced it will continue the Educator Effectiveness System (EES) process. Teachers affected include half of all tenured teachers for the 2015-2016 school year.  This announcement is especially disappointing because it flies in the face of all the evidence against high stakes teacher evaluations, like EES, and all the legislative changes that have occurred this school year: The Every Student Succeeds Act, which passed in December, allows individual states to decide to use tests on teacher evaluations or whether they want to conduct teacher evaluations at all. 69% of teachers had an unfavorable opinion of EES and 68% of teachers said that EES was not improving their teaching (HSTA Survey 2016) 86% of principals agree there is too much emphasis on test scores and 78% of principals agree that the EES has adversely affected morale at their schools (Education Institute of Hawaii’s Principal Survey 2015) After implementing the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) for the 98% of the tenured teachers who received an effective or highly effective rating, teachers have reported that the stress level on campus has decreased and morale increased. The DOE could have carried over ratings and continued IPDP for one more year until a new contract could be negotiated, but instead they choose to go back to EES for school year 2016-2017. It is imperative that the DOE listen to its teachers because teachers are the ones who are doing the work every single day. If teachers and principals say that one method is not working and another has potential for success, our opinions should not be ignored out of hand.  Despite the DOE’s announcement today, HSTA is not giving up the fight:  HSTA is actively lobbying in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 155, which requests the DOE abolish the use of teacher evaluations that impact teacher pay or employment status, discontinue use of standardized tests in evaluating teachers, and that the Board of Education collaborate with the HSTA on creating a new evaluation system. HSTA has testified to the Board of Education that they amend or eliminate BOE policy 2055(203.4) HSTA will keep this issue front and center during contract negotiations which will open later this year.  HSTA will work with Governor David Ige to appoint people to the Board of Education who will listen to teachers that high stakes teacher evaluations are not improving education, and who will respect the voices of every teacher.  It is up to all of us to stay vigilant on this issue, and keep voicing our opposition. Continue the fight. Keep the faith. We can do this together.  Aloha Corey Rosenlee HSTA President   HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. 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