Niu Valley Middle and Waimea High vice principals recognized as state’s 2025 Assistant Principals of the Year

31-Jan-2025

Vice Principal Marlyn Hutton of Niu Valley Middle and Vice Principal Penny Vess of Waimea High to represent Hawai‘i among nation’s top assistant principals.

​Niu Valley Middle School Vice Principal Marlyn Hutton and Waimea High School Vice Principal Penny Vess were recognized this week as Hawai‘i’s 2025 Middle Level Assistant Principal of the Year and High School Assistant Principal of the Year, respectively.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Assistant Principal of the Year program annually recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for students. Hawai‘i’s assistant principals of the year were named by the local chapter of the NASSP, the Hawai‘i Association of Secondary School Administrators (HASSA). This is the first year that NASSP has expanded its program to recognize middle level and high school awardees separately. 

“Vice Principal Hutton and Vice Principal Vess are prime examples of school leaders who embed the needs of students in the core of all their decision making,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “They have cultivated healthy and safe learning environments for their students and staff, advocated for the equity of individualized, high-quality education for all students, and empowered their school communities to foster innovation and creativity as part of the teaching and learning process. We are so proud to have these leaders representing our Hawaiʻi public schools on a national stage.”

Marlyn Hutton, Vice Principal, Niu Valley Middle

Hutton has served as a vice principal for 15 years with the past nine at Niu Valley Middle, where she has helped to transform the school’s culture into one that fosters staff empowerment, prioritizes relationships, and promotes professional development. Hutton has led in-house mini conferences at the school where teachers can collaborate and share best practices with one another, and has initiated staff “learning walks” to promote a deeper dialogue around instructional practices. Throughout her time on the Niu Valley leadership team, teacher satisfaction rose from 32% to nearly 83%. 

Hutton is also dedicated to ensuring that all students feel valued and supported during their middle school years. In addition to advocating for equity of underrepresented student groups and expanding inclusive classrooms at Niu Valley, Hutton has helped to establish the school’s advisory program, creating an overall system of academic and social emotional student support. Since its implementation, students’ sense of belonging rose from 39% to 64%.  

“​​Vice Principal Hutton serves as an exemplary role model, fostering positive relationships that cultivate a healthy and thriving school culture at Niu Valley Middle School,” Principal Jeffrey Shitaoka said in her nomination. “Her commitment to clear communication, trust and mutual respect has earned her the confidence and credibility of both teachers and staff.”

“It is an honor to represent the Honolulu district, but also my school, the state of Hawai‘i and all administrators throughout the state,” said Hutton, who was recognized on Thursday at a surprise assembly of seventh graders. “This is not just one person, it’s a team effort to build a school culture where we all want to come to work every day.”

Honolulu City Councilmember Tommy Waters, who represents parts of East Oʻahu, also presented Hutton with a commemorative certification from the Honolulu City Council.

Penny Vess, Vice Principal, Waimea High

Vess, who was recognized today at a 9th grade assembly, has served as a vice principal for 23 years, the past eight at Waimea High, where she oversees the freshman academy to help successfully transition students from middle school to high school. Under her leadership, freshmen are provided with personalized guidance and are empowered to advocate for themselves in achieving their goals. 

Vess’s vision for the freshman academy led to a focus on career exploration, spurring exciting learning opportunities like career fairs, mock trials, community-based projects, and post-secondary education opportunities for students. In the first year of Vess’ new vision, all ninth graders were promoted to 10th grade. Waimea’s freshman academy was the first in Hawai‘i – and second in the nation – to achieve national model academy status in 2019.

Vess’s dedication to providing an equitable education for all students at Waimea has also led to the school’s initiative of mainstreaming all special education students. In addition to coordinating the staff support for these students in inclusive classrooms, she regularly encourages students to participate in the development of their own educational plans to ensure that they have all the necessary accommodations to succeed in the classroom.

“From day one, Assistant Principal Vess has set the needs of each student as a guiding organizational value at Waimea High,” Principal Mahina Anguay said in her nomination. “She sees each student as an individual, noting their strengths and helping them to work toward improved outcomes and decision making.”

“This is definitely a big honor not just for me, but for the school and our freshman academy,” said Vess, who was recognized during a ninth-grade assembly. “This is a recognition of our freshman academy staff and all the hard work they put into this.”

Also in attendance was State of Hawaiʻi Board of Education member Bill Arakaki as well as Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo, who presented Vess with both a commemorative certification from the Kaua‘i County Council, and a proclamation from Mayor Derek Kawakami declaring Jan. 31, 2025 as “Penny Vess Day.”

Hutton and Vess will travel to Washington, D.C., to represent Hawaiʻi at the National Assistant Principal of the Year awards in April. 

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