Departamento de Educación del Estado de Hawái

Ka ʻOihana Hoʻonaʻauao o ke Aupuni Hawaiʻi

HIDOE recognizes complex area and charter school teachers of the year

  • The finalists are (top row, left to right), David Adler, Josette (Kaleo) Akim Hanohano, Jessica Canyon, Susan Chew. (Second row, left to right) Claire Ann (Kalaunuola) Domingo, Steve Hanks, Judith (Elise) Hannigan, Christopher Justo. (Third row, left to right) Jodi Kadoyama, Emily Mendoza, Kristel Pigao, Dawn Spurrell-Robinson. (Bottom row, left to right) Courtney Suma, Kris Tajima, Kathleen Trifonovitch, Natsumi Yamasato.

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) today named 15 complex area teachers of the year and one charter school teacher of the year as part of the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year recognition. 

“This year’s Teachers of the Year exemplify the profound impact our dedicated educators have in preparing our students to become globally competitive and locally committed,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “Their commitment to fostering not just academic excellence, but also creativity, resilience, curiosity and critical thinking, is truly inspiring. We are honored to celebrate these individuals who are actively building a foundation for success for our students, our schools, and our state.”

The teachers of the year, in alphabetical order, are:

Teacher
Área compleja
Escuela
Subject or Grade
David Adler
Nānākuli-Waiʻanae
Escuela primaria Nānākuli
6th grade math and science
Josette (Kaleo) Akim Hanohano
Castillo-Kahuku
Kahuku nivel alto e intermedio
Modern History of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian Language
Jessica Canyon
Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani
Escuela primaria Fern
5to grado
Susan Chew
Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokai
Lanai High and Elementary
Kindergarten
Claire Ann (Kalaunuola) Domingo
Public Charter Schools
Ke Kula oʻ Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School
Kindergarten (Hawaiian immersion)
Steve Hanks
Honoka'a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena 
Honoka‘a High & Intermediate
11th and 12th grade math
Judith (Elise) Hannigan
Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa
Escuela secundaria Kea'au
Inglés
Christopher Justo
Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua
Escuela media Mililani
Agriculture
Jodi Kadoyama
Ciudad Perla-Waipahu
Escuela primaria Mānana
Curriculum Coordinator
Emily Mendoza
'Aiea-Moanalua-Radford
'Escuela secundaria Aiea
Artes culinarias
Kristel Pigao
Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko'i-Maui
Escuela primaria Waiheʻe
5to grado
Dawn Spurrell-Robinson
Hilo-Waiākea
Área del complejo Hilo-Waiākea
PreK-6
Courtney Suma
Campbell-Kapolei
Preparatoria Kapolei
Career Academy Coordinator
Kris Tajima
Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt
Escuela primaria Kauluwela
English Learner Coordinator
Kathleen Trifonovitch
Kailua-Kalāheo
Escuela primaria Maunawili
4to grado
Natsumi Yamasato
Kapaa, Kauai y Waimea
Wilcox Elementary
PROVENIR

In September, one teacher will be announced as the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and will go on to represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program. The honor is presented annually to a teacher selected from more than 13,000 HIDOE educators.