HIDOE names finalists for the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year

20-Sep-2023

The Department today named 15 complex area teachers of the year and one charter school teacher of the year as finalists for the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year recognition.


The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) today named 15 complex area teachers of the year and one charter school teacher of the year as finalists for the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year recognition. 

“These outstanding educators have an unwavering dedication and passion for high-quality teaching and learning,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “We are proud to recognize them as true embodiments of what it means to be an exceptional educator, and are grateful for the creative and innovative ways in which they engage their students, colleagues and communities on a daily basis.”

On Oct. 3, one teacher will be announced as the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and will go on to represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program. The honor is presented annually to a teacher selected from more than 13,000 HIDOE educators. The Department will livestream the ceremony from Washington Place starting at 3 p.m.

The honored finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Teacher

Complex Area

School

Subject or Grade

Laurie Chang

Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt

Aliʻiolani Elementary

English Language Arts and Math

Laura Cummings

Castle-Kahuku

Sunset Beach Elementary

Math and Science

Pinky Grace Francisco

Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa

Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary

English Language Arts

Jackie Freitas

Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua

Leilehua High

Natural Resources

David “Kawika” Gonzales Jr. 

Hāna-Lāhaināluna-Lanaʻi-Molokaʻi

Kaunakakai Elementary

5th grade

Marina Higa

‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford

Major General William R. Shafter Elementary

Special Education

Jennifer Ilaban

Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena

Kahakai Elementary

English Language Arts

Gregory Kent

Kailua-Kalāheo

Kailua Elementary

STEM

Kara Kitamura

Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea

Kapaʻa High

Science and Career Technical Education

Jessica Peterson

Pearl City-Waipahu

August Ahrens Elementary

Kindergarten 

Christopher Pike

Hilo-Waiākea

Chiefess Kapi‘olani Elementary

5th grade

Norman Ray Sales

Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani

Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High 

School Strategic Planner and Academy Coach

John “Parker” Sawyer

Public Charter Schools

Kaʻohao School

STEM

Donna Soriano

Nānākuli-Waiʻanae

Waiʻanae Elementary

STEM and Computer Science

Melanie Teraoka

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihākoʻi-Maui

Waiheʻe Elementary

Reading Coach

Ariel Villanueva

Campbell-Kapolei

‘Ewa Makai Middle

Industrial Engineering and Technology



Contact Information

Communications Branch

Phone: (808) 784-6200

Email: doeinfo@k12.hi.us

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