Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Ka ʻOihana Hoʻonaʻauao o ke Aupuni Hawaiʻi

Maui High counselor named one of five finalists nationwide for 2026 School Counselor of the Year award

Maui High School’s Leka Anitema was named as one of five finalists nationwide for the 2026 National School Counselor of the Year award, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Maui High School’s Leka Anitema was named one of five finalists nationwide for the 2026 National School Counselor of the Year award, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recently announced.

The ASCA program honors exemplary school counseling professionals who devote their careers to serving as advocates for the nation’s students, helping them achieve success in school and in life. The five finalists are:

  • Leka Anitema, Maui High School, Kahului, Hawai‘i 
  • Danielle R. Crankfield, Crofton High School, Gambrills, Md.
  • Annie Goldberg, ACSC, Broadview Middle School, Burlington, N.C.
  • Lydia T. Larimore, Neabsco Elementary School, Woodbridge, Va. 
  • Summer Royale Whittington, Ernest Gallet Elementary School, Youngsville, La.

ASCA’s panel — made up of principals, school counselors and representatives from education-related organizations from across the country — selected the finalists based on several criteria, including school counseling innovations, exemplary school counseling programs, leadership and advocacy skills, and contributions to student outcomes.

“As someone born and raised on Maui, it’s incredibly meaningful to now serve and raise my growing family in the same island community that shaped me,” Anitema said. “This honor reflects the shared commitment of Hawai‘i’s educators to help our students find and access the pathways that matter most to them and their families.”

For the past 13 years, she has served in various roles at Maui High School, including district trainer, community liaison, student advisor, event coordinator and others. Anitema has been the school’s post-high counselor for the last three years.

“My original title was college and career counselor, but that didn’t fit our school community’s needs,” she says in her application video. “So I changed it.”

In Aug. 2022, she led the rebranding effort to change Maui High’s College and Career Center to the Post High Center and tweaked her title to better reflect a comprehensive focus on all post-high school pathways, including college, trades, apprenticeships, military and the workforce.

Anitema helped to implement MaiaLearning at Maui High, making it the first HIDOE school to use the innovative platform which was previously only available to private schools in Hawai‘i. The online program allows students to create a comprehensive personalized transition plan for post-secondary success. 

She initiated and led Maui County’s first Senior Hiring Event, connecting students from Maui, Lāna‘i and Molokai with over 65 local and national employers. She also spearheaded Maui County’s first Hawai‘i-based College Fair in January to expand local post-secondary opportunities for students. The event brought together 14 Hawai‘i-based campuses to Maui to showcase how students can be locally rooted while pursuing globally competitive education and careers.

Anitema helped to transition Maui High’s dual-credit program from standalone courses to paired offerings, significantly increasing opportunities for students to earn college credits, with over 150 students who participate each year.

Beyond the classroom, she continues to create opportunities for student success through her leadership roles as chair of the Maui High School Foundation Scholarship committee and the HME (HM Electronics, Inc.) Inspiration Tour committee. In these roles, she connects current students with alumni, fostering mentorship and inspiration across generations.

“None of this would have been possible without the incredible support systems at Maui High and throughout our Hawai‘i community. Every success has been the result of many hands and hearts working together, including my own family who have embraced and shared in these efforts from the very beginning,” said Anitema, who grew up in Lahaina. She graduated in 2005 from H.P. Baldwin High School, where she held numerous leadership roles, including serving as class president and valedictorian. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in TESOL Education from Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i, with minors in psychology and theatrical arts. She later obtained certifications in school counseling and educational leadership.

“This is an extraordinary honor and a well-deserved recognition of Leka’s dedication, compassion and excellence as an educator and counselor,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “School counselors play an essential role in nurturing students’ academic growth, career readiness and social-emotional well-being. We are proud to have her represent Hawai‘i on the national stage and will be cheering her on every step of the way!”

Anitema will travel to Virginia next month for an in-person interview along with the other finalists. The ASCA will announce a winner in late fall and host an in-person celebration in January in Washington, D.C. The School Counselor of the Year and finalists will be celebrated in a series of virtual events during National School Counseling Week — Feb. 2-6, 2026.