The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) recently 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.
On Oct. 3, one of them will be announced as the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and 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 include:
| 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 |
Photo credit: Department of Education