Maui Teacher Among Candidates for HSTA Vice President

One of the candidates for HSTA vice president, Justin Hughey, is a special education teacher from Maui’s Kamehameha III Elementary School in West Maui.

By Maui Now Staff

The Hawaiʻi Teachers for Change Caucus has announced its candidates for Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association elections, which will be open for voting from April 13 to 24 by electronic and mailed ballots.

One of the candidates for HSTA vice president, Justin Hughey, is a special education teacher from Maui’s Kamehameha III Elementary School in West Maui. He serves as HSTA’s Maui Chapter vice president, and is also the chairperson of Hawaiʻi’s Democratic Party Education Caucus. Hughey has written and guided numerous resolutions through passage at state Democratic Party and HSTA conventions, and the National Education Association. His efforts have brought awareness to dangerous classroom conditions, special education staffing issues, and other instances of discriminatory positions by the state Department of Education.

Corey Rosenlee, a nationally certified social studies teacher from Campbell High School in Ewa Beach on Oʻahu, is running for HSTA president. He was the teacher who organized the “Work to the Rule” when former Gov. Neil Abercrombie imposed two contracts on teachers. Recently, Rosenlee has helped focus public attention on substandard learning conditions in the state’s classrooms, and is leading the fight for air conditioning in Hawaiʻi’s classrooms.

“This is an election about change,” said Rosenlee. Teachers in Hawaiʻi can no longer be the worst paid in the nation, teaching in 100 degree classrooms, and have their pay and jobs tied to a failed evaluation system” stated Rosenlee.

Dr. Amy Perruso, running for secretary-treasurer, is a nationally recognized social studies teacher at Mililani High School on Oʻahu. She has a history of active advocacy for both teachers and students. Perruso was a national finalist for “History Teacher of the Year,” and was the winner of Walmart’s “Hawaiʻi Teacher of the Year.” She has been for the past few years a school community council representative for her school, and is currently the central chapter vice president. Her recent doctoral thesis on the politics of “education reform” serves as the foundation for her fight to reclaim public education for our children.

Hawaiʻi Teachers for Change Caucus Platform

1. Fair pay
2. Eliminate the Educator Effectiveness System
3. Respect for teachers
4. Social justice
5. Strong, open union
6. Reclaim our public schools