Kīhei Elementary EL teachers create, share culturally relevant book list

2025-12-19T15:03:50-10:00December 16, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

EL Coordinator Erin Kowalick and Mahala Quintana, an EL teacher, both of Kīhei Elementary, launched a “Culturally Relevant Books” project at their school, aiming to equip each classroom with diverse and culturally significant titles to help K-5 students see themselves on the pages.

Judge rules in favor of teachers who weren’t properly credited for prior teaching

2025-11-25T15:13:09-10:00November 25, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

A state judge’s decision Tuesday to affirm a recent decision by the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board (HLRB) could clear the way for more than 2,200 public school teachers to be given service credit for teaching experience outside of Hawaiʻi, possibly raising their pay.

Hawaiʻi high school students explore teaching as a career at Dive Into Education event

2025-11-25T11:13:45-10:00November 25, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

More than 230 high school students from a dozen public schools across the state gathered Friday for the third annual Dive Into Education event to learn more about the teaching profession from Hawai‘i educators.

One-time credit recognition granted for former charter teachers now at HIDOE

2025-10-01T12:22:46-10:00October 1, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

As a result of HSTA's advocacy, the HIDOE issued a memo that updates the procedures for teachers moving from charter schools into HIDOE positions and creates a one-time window through the end of 2025 for HIDOE teachers who formerly taught at Hawaiʻi charter schools to gain recognition for previous academic and professional development credits that can be used to reclassify and increase their pay. 

HIDOE expands TESOL Sheltered Instruction Qualification options

2025-10-01T10:16:18-10:00October 1, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) just announced updates and new options for teachers to obtain the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Sheltered Instruction Qualification (SIQ) to provide educators more flexibility.

Elise Hannigan wins 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year award

2025-09-22T14:13:31-10:00September 19, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Elise Hannigan, an English teacher at Keaʻau High on Hawaiʻi Island, received the state’s top teaching award from Gov. Josh Green and Schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi during a ceremony at Washington Place Friday afternoon.

HSTA board selects Andrea Eshelman as next executive director

2025-09-05T16:00:10-10:00September 5, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Board of Directors has appointed Andrea Eshelman as HSTA’s next executive director. She brings nearly three decades of experience as a public school teacher, union leader, manager and chief negotiator to her new position. 

HSTA intervenes to ensure fair pay standards for teachers

2025-08-28T09:52:44-10:00August 28, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association (HSTA) has been granted permission to intervene in a court appeal of a labor board decision concerning hundreds of its members who have not received credit for prior teaching experience.

HSTA wins $291K in back pay after HIDOE pay raise error

2025-07-31T14:04:25-10:00July 31, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , |

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association has secured a $291,881 settlement from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) to compensate 71 teachers who were improperly denied a step increase during the 2023–2024 school year.

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