Maui Speech Pathologists Honored with Education Merit Award

Speech and language pathologists at the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area were recognized today with a Team Excellence Award of Merit from the state Department of Education.

Speech & Language Pathologists, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Are

The team of Maui pathologists includes: Sommer Aumiller, Richard Beilke, Loretta Brem, Cierra Crowe, Valerie Donnalson, Christina Gonzalez, Lueann Kessler, Janel Merritt, Jill Mutch, Sue Lee, Laurie Norman, Emma Pognant, Barbara Rolph, Eve-Noel Uaiwa, Jenna Nakama, Janine Williams and Tami Yamamura.

The recognition was made during an awards ceremony that honored employees for their special and continued contributions to education and the students of Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi Department of Education awards 2017.

The top award for 2017 Employee of the Year went to Olomana School’s Rene Iwamoto, who serves as a School Health Aide.  DOE officials say Iwamoto has been a state employee for 27 years and is cherished by her students, faculty, staff and parents as “Aunty Rene.”

“In this challenging school environment, she bridged the gap between the school and the community by encouraging and increasing parental involvement in the school’s ‘Ohana nights.  Her gentleness and constancy have redefined her role at the school as not only a health aide, but also as an event planner, extra hand, Parent Community Network Center coordinator, counselor and trusted friend,” DOE officials said.

The Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School Custodial Team also earned top honors as HIDOE’s 2017 Team of the Year. This all-purpose team is credited with taking on building repairs, gardening, cleaning and all manner of maintenance needs.  The team has conducted campus visits to other schools to learn different techniques and share knowledge with other custodial teams as well.  They were credited for their efficiency and ingenuity, which has helped the department to reduce future cleaning time and replacement costs.

Other Team Excellence Award of Merit winners were the custodial staff at Nānākuli Elementary School and the Transformation Team at Olomana School.