#Hawaii State Teachers Association

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is teaming up with US Rep. Jill Tokuda and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi to host a virtual “Know Your Rights for Educators: Immigration Enforcement” session today, July 30, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. HST.

A Maui teacher, who along with other educators was detained by federal law enforcement officers during an early morning raid at a Kahului home Tuesday morning, said agents were looking for a convicted felon.

Leanne Dunn, educator of Makawao Elementary School on Maui, was among the 25 Hawai‘i educators from throughout the state who were recognized for their completion of the rigorous certification program of the National Board Certified Teacher. With the latest cohort of newly certified teachers, there are now 539 in Hawai‘i who hold this designation.

The University of Hawaiʻi faculty have finalized their contract for the next two years, with overwhelming support, the UH Professional Assembly announced on Friday.

A year after devastating fatal wildfires swept through Maui, teachers across the island continue to deal with the tragedy’s profound impact and acknowledge the crucial role played by their union, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, in recovery efforts.

In March of 2020, COVID precautions had caused sweeping closures of Maui’s Friday Town Parties. Over four years later, Wailuku First Fridays is making a comeback. The free community street party returns to Market Street on Aug. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.

A Kauaʻi man was recognized on a national stage for his integral role in the preservation and education of an ancient fishpond near Līhuʻe. Fred “Peleke” Flores, field operations and cultural resources manager with Mālama Hulē‘ia, received the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Award from the National Education Association in Philadelphia Wednesday.

More than a dozen Maui teachers flew to Oʻahu on Thursday to ask for more support following devastating wildfires last August. Designated as a hard-to-staff location for years, West Maui is experiencing a critical teacher shortage as many educators are still piecing together their lives, or were forced to leave the area entirely, according to the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association. Educators on Maui are asking for increased shortage differentials for West Maui teachers, the creation of a fire relief leave bank, and more robust mental health support for all who were impacted, including displaced students. 

Friday’s Dive Into Education event was the first of its kind organized by students aimed at motivating their peers to become educators, and help to address Hawaiʻi’s teacher shortage.

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, in partnership with Kamehameha Schools, has provided more than 1,000 backpacks to Lahaina students affected by wildfires.

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association has reached a tentative, four-year contract settlement for 13,500 teachers represented by the union. The deal proposes approximately 14.5% pay increases over the four-year contract.

The show raised more than $45,000 to support Hawaiʻi educators and maintain high-quality education for keiki. 

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s Board of Directors recently approved hiring Ann Mahi, a veteran Hawaiʻi teacher, administrator, union and student advocate, as its executive director.

The Hawaiʻi Foundation for Educators is teaming up with iconic local musicians Jake Shimabukuro, Pure Heart, Robi Kahakalau, the Camarillo ohana and Makaha Sons to host “Teach Our Future,” a benefit virtual concert for public school educators that will be livestreamed Aug. 7 at 6 pm.

The show will be available via livestream worldwide and takes place at Hawaiʻi Theatre with a limited in-person audience on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education celebrated 40 educators statewide who have earned or renewed their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification – a recognition for meeting the highest standards for teaching – on Monday, April 19, 2021.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education worked in partnership with the state Department of Health to ensure health and safety protocols are consistent with the latest DOH guidance for schools as the number of projected students returning to in-person learning in the fourth quarter increase.

The Hawaiʻi Board of Education will hold a virtual public meeting Thursday, Jan. 21, to hear testimony regarding the proposed teacher layoffs and budget cuts to the Department of Education due to the statewide economic woes caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Friday filed a prohibited practice complaint with the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board, challenging the state’s imposition of furloughs, which affects more than 13,000 HSTA members starting Jan. 4.

The Hawaii State Board of Education will hold two meetings Dec. 3 to vote on the proposed Department of Education budget that could lead to the layoff of teachers.