Becky Pringle addressed HSTA members, leaders during meet-and-greet event
Posted: April 2, 2026
National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle delivered a powerful and heartfelt message to Hawaiʻi educators Wednesday at the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association headquarters on Oʻahu, uplifting their work, honoring their leadership, and calling on members to organize for power to protect students, public education, and democracy.
Nearly 30 HSTA members from across the islands attended Wednesday’s meet and greet with Pringle, who leads the 3-million-member NEA, both in person and on Zoom.
Pringle, whose term as NEA president will end in July, visited Hawaiʻi for the first time this week to tour schools and worksites on Maui and Oʻahu and meet with educators to learn about the challenges and joys of teaching in Hawaiʻi.
She shared how deeply she connected with Hawaiʻi educators, saying she felt the spirit of aloha during her visit.
“In this time of turmoil and chaos and confusion, to just breathe and have that breath of life that is the aloha spirit… you need to know that you have had an impact on me,” Pringle said.
Wednesday’s event featured a presentation by HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr., including an opening chant, an explanation of Hanohano Hawaiʻi, the history of the union, and an overview of HSTA’s committees.
Jodi Kunimitsu, a math teacher at Maui High and chair of HSTA’s Human and Civil Rights Committee, presented on the committee’s community work, using funds from the NEA’s Community Advocacy & Partnership Engagement (CAPE) Grant. She highlighted various events and initiatives, including HSTA’s Good Neighbor Day, Molokaʻi’s Youth Summit, and other efforts that advance racial and social justice in education.
Kunimitsu reflected on the importance of meeting members where they are and creating space for growth.
“We’re making sure that there’s learning happening and that we’re not disenfranchising anyone, because their journey might not be where our journey currently is,” she said.
Defending the right to learn
Pringle grounded her remarks in the long fight for civil and human rights, emphasizing that public education remains central to that struggle.
“Of all the civil rights […] the right to learn is the most fundamental […] You must fight to the last ditch to keep open the right to learn,” she said, quoting the late author W.E.B. Du Bois, known for his anti-racist works and many others.
She reminded educators that their role extends beyond the classroom. As union members, educators have a shared responsibility to:
- Protect every student’s right to learn
- Advocate for safe, just, and equitable schools
- Ensure educators are respected, supported, and fairly compensated
“We now know that it is us, educators and unionists, who will save this country,” Pringle said. “I’ve never been prouder to call myself a teacher and to call myself a unionist.”
Why we must organize for power
Pringle centered her message on a clear call to action: Educators must organize — not only to advocate, but to build and use collective power.
She outlined three key reasons:
- For students and schools: Every student deserves a safe, well-resourced learning environment where they can thrive, and where educators are trusted and valued.
- For families and communities: Students come to school with real needs shaped by their home lives. Supporting students means supporting families and communities as well.
- For democracy: Public education and democracy are deeply connected. Pringle urged educators to stay engaged and ensure systems work for everyone, not just an “elite few.”
Pringle reminded educators that they already have the power to create change through their collective voice and action.
“We have what we need. We have the power. I need you to stand in that power and make sure that you’re reaching back and bringing others with you. Because we are NEA. We accept the profound trust that has been placed in us.”
Hawaiʻi educators share their reactions to meeting, talking story with NEA president
Jasmine Chin, a special education teacher at Aliʻiolani Elementary in Honolulu Chapter, met Pringle for the first time on Wednesday and was impressed by her listening skills and approach to storytelling.
“She’s a really good listener, and I learned just from my short meeting with her, the importance of asking people what the story is, and letting other people take up that space before you share maybe a parallel story or to respond to that. So I found that very inspiring, you know, to be able to share my story of how I got involved in the union, and then listen to what she had to say to that.”
Rebecca Hadley-Schlosser, a second-grade special education inclusion teacher at Nānāikapono Elementary, shared that she had met Pringle once before she was the secretary-treasurer of NEA.
“It’s wonderful to see her again, because I’ve watched her progression through as she was vice president, and now the NEA president, so being able to chat with her and learn what’s going on at a national level is great.”
Waiʻanae High history teacher Ryan Tong spoke with Pringle, discussing his experiences and challenges in the classroom, as well as the impact of teaching in a community that was recently affected by the Kona low storms.
“It was good to tell her what we’re dealing with on our side. We just went through the Kona low storms, and some of our areas got damaged and wrecked, and telling her the story about how the community really came together was nice,” he said.
“I think that when things are going too well, everyone gets into petty issues, but then when things turn into disasters, everyone refocuses on what’s really important, so you know that’s maybe the lesson of our time,” Tong added.