HONOLULU – Kapolei Middle School librarian Carolyn Kirio has been selected by The White House as a great educator and will be recognized at a White House ceremony honoring the National Teacher of the Year, State Teachers of the Year and great educators from across the United States on Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

In 2010, Kirio recognized that Kapolei Middle School's multi-track calendar resulted in limited available library hours for over 1,400 students and developed creative solutions to allow library resources to be available at any time.  Kirio teamed up with school educators to make resources, videos and other items available online, and integrated on-demand videos for closed-circuit campus TV, along with online resources and e-books for students and teachers. [See related story on her Pathfinder Award​ from the American Association of School Librarians.]

"We are so proud of Carolyn's accomplishments and applaud her recognition as one of America's great educators," said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi.  "Her creative solutions at Kapolei Middle allow students access to the resources they need all year-round and her initiative will truly make a difference in their academic success."

"We are fortunate to have a dedicated librarian who looks at innovative ways to help our students get the most out of their education," said Kapolei Middle School Principal Bruce Naguwa.  "She has expanded the reach of the library beyond its four walls."

"Carolyn has done amazing work and has expertly harnessed technology to expand the use of her school's busy library," said Corey Rosenlee, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. "We congratulate her on this great recognition."

Kirio was nominated for the award by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association.  She was previously honored by the AASL with its Technology Pathfinder Award in June 2015 for her innovative work making the school library more accessible to students 24/7 and was the first librarian in Hawaii to receive the national honor.

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About the Hawaii State Department of Education
The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country.  It is comprised of 256 schools and 34 charter schools, and serves more than 180,000 students.  King Kamehameha III established Hawaii's public school system in 1840.