HSTA recent news
Jill Meinecke2025-04-15T18:46:55-10:00April 15, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: 52nd annual convention, Class VIII, contract, Gov. Josh Green, hazard pay, HSTA Convention, HSTA Negotiations Team, Jr., McKinley High, Negotiations, Osa Tui|
Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association President Osa Tui, Jr. revealed to delegates at the union’s 2025 State Convention that the state had offered educators a two-year extension on its existing contract with annual 4% increases without the possibility of negotiating any other terms or working conditions. After careful consideration, HSTA leadership rejected the offer, he said.
Jill Meinecke2025-04-15T15:47:16-10:00April 15, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Channa Uyetake, FOY, friend of youth award, Hawaiʻi Island, HCR Committee, Hilo, HSTA Convention, human and civil rights committee, jodi kunimitsu, kalo, Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, Mahina Oha, Mālama Hāloa Hui Kuʻi Kalo o Puna, Nick Kālāmakani Francisco, Puna, taro|
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association honored Puna educator Nick Kālāmakani Francisco with its 2025 Friend of Youth Award Saturday at HSTA’s 52nd annual State Convention.
Jill Meinecke2025-04-16T11:29:45-10:00April 15, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: 2025 HSTA STACY Award, Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, Hawaiian Education Special Committee, Hawaiian immersion, Hawaiian language, HSTA Kauai Chapter, HSTA STACY Award, ʻAlohilani Rogers, Kapaʻa Elementary, Kapaʻa Middle, Kawaikini Public Charter School, NEA Foundation’s Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, NEA Member Benefits Award, Stacy Nishina, WASC|
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s STACY Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes a teacher who demonstrates leadership, dedication, and passion in five categories: scholarship, teaching, advocacy, community, and youth. This year’s recipient is Mālia ʻAlohilani Kuala Rogers, or as she prefers to be called, ʻAlohilani, a Hawaiian immersion and resource teacher at Kawaikini Public Charter School on Kauaʻi.
Jill Meinecke2025-04-11T11:26:12-10:00April 11, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Alaska airlines, contest, giveaway, Hawaiian Airlines, HSTA app, teacher appreciation week, ticket giveaway|
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is partnering with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines to give away two round-trip tickets to three lucky members!
cschubert2025-04-12T10:18:29-10:00April 4, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: collective bargaining, education advocacy, faculty representatives, faculty support, grievance representatives, HSTA, member engagement, policy committee, school leadership, school-level leadership, teacher representation, teacher solidarity, teachers union, union elections, union governance, workplace rights|
HSTA emphasizes the importance of school-level leaders (SLLs) in advocating for teachers, ensuring clear communication, and addressing workplace concerns. With elections underway, members are encouraged to nominate themselves or trusted colleagues and vote by May 9 to strengthen union leadership.
Jill Meinecke2025-04-04T11:12:31-10:00April 2, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Class VIII, Hawaii Pacific University, IPD, learnsoft, Master's Program, microcredentials, PD, professional development, Spalding University|
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association has been working hard to create new professional development (PD) credit options since we successfully negotiated with the employer to create Class VIII, and many members have been looking for ways to obtain credits to reclassify and increase their pay.
Jill Meinecke2025-03-28T13:47:41-10:00March 28, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: HIDOE, ICE, immigration, Keith Hayashi, law enforcement guidance policy, Lotus Notes|
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education released a 10-page Law Enforcement Guidance Policy on Friday, March 21, one week after the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association asked the department for “clear and comprehensive guidance” for its members about federal immigration raids.
Jill Meinecke2025-03-28T10:47:12-10:00March 28, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Castle High, Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, food insecurity, free school meals, Hawaiʻi House Education Committee, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Hunger Action Network, hawaii public health institute, HSTA teacher lobbyist, James Campbell High School, Rep. Amy Perruso, Rep. Trish La Chica, Sarah "Mili" Milianta-Laffin, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, universal free school meals|
On Saturday, March 15, public school students, family members, teachers, lawmakers, and other community allies met at McKinley High’s Auditorium for a Free School Meals for All Community Forum.
cschubert2025-03-24T10:35:04-10:00March 24, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: advocacy groups, civil rights, civil rights protections, congress, constitutional law, Department of Education, disability rights, education equity, Education Law Center, education policy, educators, executive overreach, federal agencies, federal funding, government oversight, higher education, lawsuit, NAACP, NEA, Pell Grants, public schools, school employees, school funding, special education, student loans, student rights, Trump Administration|
Advocacy groups representing educators, civil rights organizations, and families have filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, arguing that such actions exceed executive authority and put millions of vulnerable students at risk. The lawsuit contends that eliminating the department would strip critical funding, undermine civil rights protections, and jeopardize access to education for students with disabilities, low-income families, and other marginalized groups.
Jill Meinecke2025-03-14T14:19:28-10:00March 14, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: Andrea Eshelman, Hawaiʻi Board of Education, Ho’oha‘aheo newsletter, ICE, Immigration guidance, Keith Hayashi, Konawaena Elementary, Sarah Milianta-Laffin, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|
The teachers union told the schools superintendent Friday that educators across the state need clear direction on how to address fears about federal immigration enforcement involving public school students on and off campus.
