Two Maui Principals Nominated for Excellence in Leadership Award

Maui High School. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Two Maui principals have been nominated as finalists for the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award, issued annually by Island Insurance Foundation.

Bruce Anderson of Maui High School and Steve Franz of King Kamehameha III Elementary School, are among a list of 13 public school principals nominated for the award.

2015 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Awards.

All nominees will receive a $1,000 personal cash award and a commemorative plaque during a presentation on Saturday, March 28, at the Island Insurance Center on Oʻahu.

One of the nominees will receive a $25,000 award–$10,000 of it for personal use, and the remaining $15,000 will go toward the principal’s school.  Two semifinalists will each receive a $2,000 personal cash award.  The winner and semifinalist will be announced at the Public Schools of Hawaiʻi Foundation Dinner on Thursday, April 30.

Department of Education representatives and Island Insurance Foundation President Tyler Tokioka will extend congratulatory messages during the event.

The award was named in honor of the late Masayuki Tokioka, founder of Island Insurance Company Ltd.

Other principals identified as finalists include: Dean Cevallos, Keaʻau High School; Frank Fernandes, Kaimukī Middle School; Shelley Ferrara, Mauka Lani Elementary; Debra Knight, Nānāikapono Elementary School; Stacie Kunihisa, Kanoelani Elementary School; Corey Nakamura, Wilcox Elementary School; Deborah Nekomoto, Kapunahala Elementary School; Dennis O’Brien, E.B. DeSilva Elementary School; James Sunday, Radford High School; Malaea Wetzel, Haleʻiwa Elementary School; and Sean Wong, Ala Wai Elementary School.