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 finalists for the 2025 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year recognition.
“Each of these educators utilize innovative approaches to cultivate high-quality environments of teaching and learning where students can thrive,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “Their passion for teaching and unwavering dedication to student success inspire and elevate our students, staff, schools and communities.”
The honored finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Teacher | 복합 지역 | 학교 | Subject or Grade |
Leah ʻAiwohi | 카파아-카우아이-와이메아 | 카우아이 하이 | Computer Science, STEM and Career Technical Education |
Ian Cablay | 레이레후아-밀리라니-와이알루아 | Waialua High | Music/Band |
Tennelle Clark | 나나쿨리-와이아나에 | 와이아나에 초등학교 | 5학년 |
Lauren Collier | 캐슬 카후쿠 | Kane‘ohe Elementary | 특수교육 |
Robin Cone-Murakami Barros | Public Charter Schools | The School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS) | Art |
Leah Gouker | Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa | Pāhoa High | 사회학 |
Nicole Laeha | 카일루아-칼라헤오 | 카일루아 중급 | Computer Science and Engineering Electives |
Karla “Viviana” Martinez | 호노카아-케알라케헤-코할라-코나와에나 | 코나와에나 고등학교 | 영어 언어 예술 |
Jessie O’Neill-Prest | 볼드윈-케카우리케-쿨라니하코이-마우이 | 키헤이 초등학교 | Curriculum Coordinator |
Jaime “Kumu Eva” Palakiko | 하나-라하이나루나-라나'이-몰로카이 | 라하이날루나 고등학교 | Hawaiian Language, Hula, Hawaiian History |
Jonathan Peralto | 힐로-와이아케아 | 와이아케아 중급 | 사회학 |
Jennifer Sato | 카이무키-맥킨리-루즈벨트 | 쿠히오 초등학교 | Academic Coach |
Bryan Silver | 패링턴-카이저-칼라니 | 칼라니 하이 | Career Technical Education: Engineering |
Erin Takamura-Luu | 아이에아-모아날루아-래드포드 | 레드힐 초등학교 | 1학년 |
Sherry Tenn | 펄 시티-와이파후 | 와이파후 고등학교 | Career Technical Education: Natural Resources |
Kim Virtudazo | 캠벨-카폴레이 | 캠벨 고등학교 | 영어 언어 예술 |
In October, one teacher will be announced as the 2025 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.
