Educators honored during a ceremony at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol
Posted: February 3, 2023
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, in partnership with Kamehameha Schools, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, and the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board, honored new and renewing National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Wednesday. It was the first in-person NBCT ceremony held on Oʻahu since 2020.
This year, 28 new NBCTs joined the ranks of highly credentialed teachers statewide. Hawaiʻi now has a total of 777 NBCTs who are making a positive impact on classrooms with their advanced certifications. Eighty-two educators renewed their certifications this year.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification is the highest professional distinction available in education; a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure.
Public school teachers who maintain board certification in Hawaiʻi receive a $5,000 bonus per year, and an additional $5,000 bonus per year if their school meets specific criteria, such as being hard to fill or low performing.
Teachers share their experiences of getting certified
The certification process is rigorous and filled with component requirements that require extensive feedback and collaboration.
Christine Russo, accreditation and data coordinator at Campbell High School, received her certification for the first time and called the experience “enriching.”
“Through the process, I’ve grown so much as an educator,” said Russo, who is in her eighth year of teaching. “It’s like a self-guided professional development process because you have to really dig in and know the content and know how to be the best teacher for your students. And at the end of the day, it’s a process that really makes it all worth it.”
Jefferson Elementary School curriculum coordinator Kelly Sutcliffe also got certified for the first time and credits the support she received during the process for her success.
“My first year starting, I was with a cohort and I stayed with that cohort for two years,” Sutcliffe said. “That was amazing because I really felt supported. My adviser was fantastic. She would even meet with me outside of our cohort at the mall if I needed anything, so I really felt like I had a lot of support going through it.”
Even though Sutcliffe didn’t pass her first time, she recommitted herself through determination.
She said, “I have a hard time quitting anything. I’m like, ‘I started this process. I need to see it through,’ and the fact that I knew I would have another opportunity to reflect on my components and figure out which ones I could have done better on, that was also good in and of itself. So I was like, ‘I’m going to see it through to the end.’”
Leaders offer inspiring words, praise to educators
At Wednesday’s ceremony, Gov. Josh Green commended newly certified and renewing teachers for their achievement.
“It’s great to celebrate you, because you make society better,” he said. “The core of every democratic society is a strong educational system. Without it, we have no hope. Today we have to celebrate expanded hope because you’re so exceptional, so thank you. Thank you, from my heart, for doing what you do.”
Schools superintendent Keith Hayashi also delivered remarks before teachers and their families.
“I want to give a big mahalo to each of you for leading the way forward. Congratulations to all of you for this outstanding achievement. Thank you very much for the work that you do, (for) the commitment to our schools, to our students and to our communities. Our Hawaiʻi public school system continues to deliver rigorous and relevant learning for all students because of teachers like you,” Hayashi said.
Logan Okita, HSTA vice president and a member of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Board of Directors said, “The decision to pursue National Board Certification is not taken lightly. Teachers, who already have so many responsibilities on a daily basis, choose to add to the work they are doing to benefit their profession and their students.
“I personally know the commitment that is involved in the certification process and understand the struggles that teachers have faced since 2020 when our world flipped upside down due to a pandemic. Teachers are resilient, and even with the changes, worries, and extra support they’re giving to those around them, they still found the time to show their excellence,” she said.
Congratulations to the teachers who earned or renewed their certification
Hawaiʻi Island
Robyn Amana, Keaʻau Elementary School
Cynthia Bartels, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus
Heather Corcoran, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus
Dan De Mattos, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus
Kaulu Gapero, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus
Gigi Goochey, Kealakehe High School
Shana Kiriu, Keaʻau High School
Jacqueline Kubo Luna, Chiefess Kapiʻolani Elementary School
Shelby Loo, Waimea Middle Public Charter School
Maegan Macgregor, Waikōloa Elementary & Middle School
Nauileiilima Murphy, Waimea Middle Public Charter School
Kerry Ogawa, Mountain View Elementary School
Sheldon Ormsby, Hawaiʻi Prep Academy
Amy Pankowski, Keonepoko Elementary School
Malia Perry, Waiākea Elementary School
Pascale Pinner, Hilo Intermediate School
Kawika Rose, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus
Susanna Rivera, Keaʻau Elementary School
Shelley Roberg, Hōlualoa Elementary School
Aysha Spencer, Chiefess Kapiʻolani Elementary
Samantha Tomori, Kaʻu-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Area
Christina Vien, Kealakehe Elementary School
Heather Wickersham, Konawaena High School
Kauaʻi
Caroline Freudig, Kalaheao Elementary School
Summer Holwegner, King Kaumualiʻi Elementary School
Kathy Shibuya, King Kaumualiʻi Elementary School
Doreen Stone, King Kaumualiʻi Elementary School
Maui County
Sheila Ann Dean, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus
Malia Draper, Waiheʻe Elementary School
Caroline Flynn, Kamaliʻi Elementary School
Beth Fobbe-Wills, Kahului Elementary School
Bo Kim-Bautista, Wailuku Elementary School
Geri Kimoto, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus
Liane Nakamura, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus
Kristi Nitta, Lihikai Elementary School
Michael Oliver, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus
Liane Otani-Nakagawa, Maui District Office
Camille Romero, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus
Hannibal Starbuck, Baldwin High School
Elizabeth Toba, Puʻu Kukui Elementary School
Maile Viela, Waiheʻe Elementary School
Andrea Yuen, Kaunakakai Elementary School
Victoria Zupancic, Lahainaluna High School
Oʻahu
Kalahikiola Aukai, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Maria Bernard-Reantaso, Moanalua High School
Griffin Bolan, Waiʻanae High School
Michelle Carlson, Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School
Dustin Chang, Pearl Harbor Elementary School
Tanya Cobbin, Waipahu High School
Jennifer Davis, ʻAikahi Elementary School
Cindy Deuz, Red Hill Elementary School
Jason Duncan, Mililani High School
Daina Enabe, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Lisa Espiritu, Nimitz Elementary School
Eleyne Fia, James Campbell High School
Jill Fletcher, Kapolei High School
Cathylynne Fong, King Liholiho Elementary School
Keisha Funaki, Laʻie Elementary School
Jonathan Gillentine, HSTA-Retired
Holland Henderson, Castle High School
Jami Higashi Lee, Pearl City High School
Dayna Hironaka, Kahaluʻu Elementary School
Lisa Hyatt, Kahuku High & Intermediate School
Michael Ibara, Kalākaua Middle School
Dana Kaeo, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Tracy Kaichi, Waipahu High School
Mara Kaizawa-Miyata, McKinley High School
Naomi Kamauoha, Lincoln Elementary
Dawn Kanoho, Momilani Elementary School
Suanne Kim, Pālolo Elementary School
Rayna Kinoshita, Pearl Harbor Elementary School
Carolyn Kirio, Farrington High School
Naomi Kamauoha, Lincoln Elementary School
Matthew Lawrence, Waikīkī Elementary School
Ferozah Mackenzie, Kalihi Kai Elementary School
Terri Marshall, Le Jardin Academy
Mary Matsukawa, Kailua High School
Erin Mendelson, Helemano Elementary School
Muelang Molina
Nikki Morishige, Waiāhole Elementary School
Lisa Nakama, Momilani Elementary School
Kalelani Kay Ogata, Lincoln Elementary School
Troy Okamoto, Radford High School
Amber O’Reilly, Kahuku High & Intermediate School
Lisa Oka, Moanalua High School
Raylene Peters, Kailua High School
Jessica Piiohia, Mālama Honua Public Charter School
Jillian Przygodzinski, Aliʻiolani Elementary School
Rubiflor Redona, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Catherine Ritti, Farrington High School
Christine Russo, James Campbell High School
Tammy Sanekane, Fern Elementary School
Jennifer Sato, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Elementary School
Kristy Sharrer, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Mary Shire, ʻAiea Intermediate School
Amy Shishido, Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School
Hwa Hee Sohn, Office of Strategy Innovation and Performance, Assessment Section
Donna Soriano, Waiʻanae Elementary School
Heidi Soriano, Holomua Elementary School
Lisa Staib, Kamaile Academy Public Charter School
Amber Stanley, Kamiloʻiki Elementary School
Mari Sunabe, Kamehameha Schools District
Kelly Sutcliffe, President Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Jodi Tanabe-Hanzawa, McKinley High School
Jan Tanaka, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Courtney Tawata, Waikīkī Elementary School
Cady Uyeoka, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
Kim Virtudazo, James Campbell High School
Lynn Wakahiro, Momilani Elementary School
Maile Yasui, Momilani Elementary School
Earn your National Board Certification
If you’re interested in starting your National Board Certification journey, you can find more information on candidate support, scholarships, and more via HSTA’s National Board Support Network.
At HSTA’s Institute Week, there will be a workshop on National Board Certification called, “NBCT: Take the Leap” hosted by HSTA’s NBCT Ambassadors. The session will take place from 11 to 11:45 a.m. on:
- Monday, Feb. 13: Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi
- Friday, Feb. 17: Oʻahu
During the session, you can learn more about National Board Certification and the resources, support, and financial incentives offered in Hawaiʻi. You’ll also learn about Jump Start, HSTA’s summer seminar series that takes a deep dive into the National Board Certification components while helping candidates build peer support.