Maui teacher suffering from long COVID seeks leave share donations

Pōmaikaʻi Elementary third-grade teacher and Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Maui Chapter member Courtney Flower is asking for leave donations from her colleagues after being diagnosed with long COVID.

Flower has been a teacher in Hawaiʻi for 18 years. After being diagnosed with COVID, she tried to recover and return to work multiple times in the 2021–22 school year, but she continued to battle with debilitating fatigue and cognitive dysfunction.

The mother of two attended teacher work days prior to the start of the 2022–23 school year, but her long COVID symptoms were exacerbated. Her doctor told her that if she continues to work, she will never recover.

“My doctor placed me on medical leave for the school year and referred me to UCLA Medical Center and Scripps Medical Center for continued treatment,” Flower said.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education approved her request to ask for up to 163 donated leave days from Sept. 1, 2022, to May 30, 2023. The deadline to donate days to Flower is Oct. 7. Access the leave share donation form (DOE OTM 300-002) and donate.

“I would be very grateful for any donated leave to help alleviate the medical bills and support my family while I receive further medical treatment in California,” Flower said. “Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.”

Conditions of leave share donations:

• Certificated employees may only donate sick leave.
• Minimum of (1) day and maximum of (10) days may be donated per school year.
• If you earn vacation leave, you must donate vacation leave (12-month certificated only).
• You must have a remaining balance of 10 vacation days or 30 sick days after your donation is processed.
• Leave donations are irrevocable.

If you are on Maui:

• Bring the leave share donation form to Maile Corpuz, Pōmaikaʻi Elementary school administrative services assistant (SASA), 4650 S. Kamehameha Ave., Kahului, HI 96732, or call (808) 727-4800.

If you are not on Maui:

• Please mail the leave share donation form directly to the following address:

  Department of Education
  Office of Talent Management, Leave Management Unit
  Employee Records and Transactions Section
  P.O. Box 2360
  Honolulu, HI 96804

• Email a copy of the form to Maile Corpuz, Pōmaikaʻi Elementary school administrative services assistant (SASA), at maile.corpuz@k12.hi.us, or call (808) 727-4800.