Jill Meinecke, Author at Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association

Castle High teacher Lauren Pokipala wins 2026 HSTA STACY Award for Teaching Excellence
Gallery

Castle High teacher Lauren Pokipala wins 2026 HSTA STACY Award for Teaching Excellence

Jill Meinecke2026-05-18T16:08:54-10:00May 18, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: advocacy, Castle High, ELA coach, Hawaii State Capitol, Lauren Pokipala, reading intervention, S.T.A.C.Y. Award, STACY Award, teaching excellence|

She stresses importance of meeting students ‘where they’re at’ Posted: May 18, 2026 The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s STACY Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes a teacher who demonstrates leadership, dedication and passion in the areas of scholarship, teaching, advocacy, community and youth. It is one of the highest honors bestowed by the union. This year’s recipient is Lauren Pokipala, an English language arts curriculum coach in the reading intervention program at Castle High School. She was honored in a special awards ceremony at the Honolulu Country Club on May 16. Pokipala has spent her entire 19-year [...]

HSTA files labor complaint over 2,200+ teachers who are owed raises
Gallery

HSTA files labor complaint over 2,200+ teachers who are owed raises

Jill Meinecke2026-05-12T09:05:45-10:00May 12, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: compression, Hawaii Labor Relations Board, HIDOE, HSTA, prohibited practice complaint, repricing, service credit|

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association has filed a complaint with the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board against the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education after HIDOE abruptly ended discussions and declared “closed” a case involving more than 2,200 public school teachers who are owed additional service credit that should result in raises worth thousands of dollars.

Discounts, giveaways for 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week
Gallery

Discounts, giveaways for 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week

Jill Meinecke2026-05-14T11:23:32-10:00May 8, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: Alaska airlines, contest, giveaway, HSTA app, Mahalo Educators, Teacher appreciation, teacher appreciation week|

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs May 4-8 this year, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association wants to say “Mahalo Educators” by offering discounts and giveaways to members!

Lawmakers send governor educator safety, other key education bills
Gallery

Lawmakers send governor educator safety, other key education bills

Jill Meinecke2026-05-06T14:49:26-10:00May 6, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: braille instruction, dyslexia screening, emergency hires, Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii AG, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, HIDOE, Hope McKeen, HSTA teacher lobbyist, HTSB, Osa Tui Jr, Sarah "Mili" Laffin, Sen. Ron Kouchi, teacher safety, TRO|

A bill that will address the rising problem of educational employees facing harassment from parents and other members of the public passed both houses of the Hawai’i State Legislature Wednesday, along with a measure that will give emergency hire teachers more time to become licensed.

Lawmakers approve teachers’ automatic annual step increases, send bill to governor
Gallery

Lawmakers approve teachers’ automatic annual step increases, send bill to governor

Jill Meinecke2026-05-06T13:42:17-10:00May 6, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: automatic step increases, Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii Legislature, HSTA teacher lobbyist, salary raise, Sarah Milianta-Laffin, Sen. Brandon Elefante, Sen. Donna Kim, teacher appreciation week, teacher pay|

The State House and Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a bill that would ensure Hawaiʻi public and charter school teachers receive annual step pay increases, a best practice that's been the norm in most other school districts across the country for decades.

Automatic step increase proposal advances in session’s final days
Gallery

Automatic step increase proposal advances in session’s final days

Jill Meinecke2026-05-01T15:31:26-10:00May 1, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: automatic step increases, Gov. Josh Green, House Education Committee, Jason Bradshaw, legislative session, Rep. Jackson Sayama, Rep. Justin Woodson, Sen. Brandon Elefante, Sen. Donna Kim, Senate Education Committee, teacher pay|

On the eve of Teacher Appreciation Week, state lawmakers on Friday showed their appreciation for educators by advancing a bill to fund annual step salary increases for public and charter school teachers.

Tell HSTA leaders your concerns at Your Voice, Our Union sessions
Gallery

Tell HSTA leaders your concerns at Your Voice, Our Union sessions

Jill Meinecke2026-05-01T13:43:40-10:00April 30, 2026|Categories: Negotiations, News|Tags: HSTA contract, Negotiations, our union, talk story, your voice|

Over the next few months, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association will hold talk-story sessions called Your Voice, Our Union throughout the islands to hear what kinds of improvements members want in our next contract.

Teacher shortage differentials will continue for SY 2026–27
Gallery

Teacher shortage differentials will continue for SY 2026–27

Jill Meinecke2026-05-01T13:49:51-10:00April 30, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: differentials, hard-to-staff, Hawaiian language immersion, HIDOE, Osa Tui, shortage differentials, special education|

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) confirmed that shortage differentials for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs will continue through SY 2026–27.

HIDOE opens Lahaina educator housing project
Gallery

HIDOE opens Lahaina educator housing project

Jill Meinecke2026-04-28T17:37:50-10:00April 28, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: educator housing, Governor Josh Green, HIDOE, Keith Hayashi, Lahaina, Lahainaluna High School, Maui|

This week, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education marked the opening of its Lahaina educator workforce housing development, a $20 million project designed to support teacher retention and strengthen public education on Maui.

Chanel Wong joins HSTA as kaulike specialist
Gallery

Chanel Wong joins HSTA as kaulike specialist

Jill Meinecke2026-04-28T09:08:25-10:00April 28, 2026|Categories: News|Tags: equity specialist, Hawaiian Education Committee, Hawaiian immersion, HIDOE, HSTA Human and Civil Rights Committee, human and civil rights, ʻāina-based education, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Kaulike Specialist, public charter schools, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa|

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is pleased to welcome Chanel Wong, a veteran public and charter school teacher and āina-based educator, as its kaulike (equity) specialist. Her first day was April 14.

About Jill Meinecke