Team honored during state affiliate communicators conference in Chicago
Posted: June 28, 2023
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s Communications Department was honored at the national State Education Association Communicators (SEAComm) conference last week in Chicago with three awards of excellence and two awards of distinction.
The awards program recognizes outstanding work every year from graphic designers, public relations specialists, editors, photographers, digital media specialists, writers, webmasters, and media planners employed by state affiliates of the National Education Association (NEA).
Awards of excellence
Category: Government/political affairs campaign
First-Place Winner: HSTA campaign to resolve compression leads to increased pay for nearly 9,000 Hawaiʻi educators
In 2022, HSTA successfully executed a campaign, appealing to both internal and external audiences, that secured funding to raise the salaries of educators who were stuck, or compressed, in the middle of the salary scale. This was confirmed on July 7, 2022, when Gov. David Ige signed the state budget into law. On Nov. 18, 2022, 72 percent of the teaching workforce began seeing their paychecks increase anywhere from $7,700 to $26,000 depending on their years of experience with retroactive pay credited back to the first working day of the 2022–23 school year. This was a historic campaign that generated statewide support from members and the community.
Comprehensive updates were posted on HSTA’s website and social media channels with important information emailed directly to membership and reinforced in weekly email newsletters. Public videos and live streams were posted to increase awareness and engagement. Many of these updates were picked up and covered by local media news outlets to amplify awareness, support, and credibility.
Category: News story
First-Place Winner: Castle High School implements more equitable dress code
Castle High School on Oʻahu recently revamped its dress code to be more equitable for all students, helping teachers and students alike avoid dress code violations that in the past caused discomfort, embarrassment, and missed class time. The new dress code has far fewer restrictions than its predecessor, which often unfairly targeted females, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and students who are economically disadvantaged. After a lengthy review of the dress code by the school principal and a committee of student activists, a new dress code was implemented and is being lauded by staff and students. It serves as a model for other schools on the islands, and has uncovered a need for broader legislative and Hawaiʻi Board of Education policy protections for students.
Category: Video (internal)
First-Place Winner: Benefits of Belonging
In this video, HSTA members reflect on their roles as educators, the power of collective voice, and how being an active member of HSTA has improved the quality of their personal and professional lives. The connection and camaraderie they describe are some of the biggest benefits of belonging to HSTA. The video invites new members to join and inspires existing members to become more involved in their union.
“HSTA changed my whole relationship to the world of education. It made me think differently about myself as an educator and as a member of the community,” said Erin Baldauf, Lokelani Intermediate 8th grade social studies teacher.
Awards of distinction
Category: Membership materials
Entry: HSTA mobile app
HSTA launched a mobile app in February in an effort to more directly connect with members and broaden its digital reach. Officially launched during Teacher Institute Day to a captive audience of thousands of educators, the app enjoys an adoption rate of 40% of membership and climbing. The app is available on Apple and Android devices and serves as a digital resource for educators to access their employment contract, contact their UniServ Directors, read latest updates and news from the union, and enter contests and promotions.
Category: Special publication
Entry: Celebrate Hawaiian Language Month with an introduction to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
In honor of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) in February, HSTA compiled lessons to provide educators and students with basic Hawaiian language building blocks. The weekly series began with the Hawaiian alphabet, syllables, diacritics, and pronunciation, as well as key values in Hawaiian culture. Week 2 covered words related to school and learning. Week 3 explored words commonly found in nature, and Week 4 concluded the series with land divisions and features. Learn more at hsta.org/olelohawaii.
HSTA Director of Communications Keoki Kerr said, “I am so proud of the incredible work done by HSTA’s communications specialists Terri Inefuku and Jill Meinecke and our media specialist Chris Schubert. Judges from across the country recognized what those of us at HSTA already know – that our communications team consistently performs at a high level of excellence.”
Kerr was elected president of SEAComm, the national organization of public school educators’ union communicators, and begins his one-year term this month.
HSTA’s Communications team from left: Chris Schubert, Media Specialist; Jill Meinecke, Communications Specialist, Keoki Kerr, Director of Communications and SEAComm President; Terri Inefuku, Communications Specialist.