Maui Teacher is Recipient of National Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools Award

Maui District health and PE resource teacher Michelle Baysa, is among a group of five teachers in Hawaiʻi who were honored as part of Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools Honor Roll awards program.

The annual program recognizes educators who are championing sustainable, healthy school environments in Kaiser Permanente’s eight regions.

Other honorees include: Brandy Richardson, Windward District health and PE resource teacher; Denise Darval-Chang, Honolulu health and PE resource teacher; Lisa Hockenberger, Leeward District health and PE resource teacher; and Yvette Ikara, Central District health and PE resource teacher.

Thriving Schools Honor Roll Award recipients (left to right): Brandy Richardson, Windward District health and PE resource teacher; Denise Darval-Chang, Honolulu health and PE resource teacher; Lisa Hockenberger, Leeward District health and PE resource teacher; Michelle Baysa, Maui District health and PE resource teacher; Yvette Ikara, Central District health and PE resource teacher; and George Centeio, educational specialist – physical education, Department of Education. PC: Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi.hawaii

The five are health and physical education resource teachers who work as a team to organize complex/district fitness meets throughout the state to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Many events integrate physical fitness testing, which gathers valuable student data that is used to coach and support students in developing their own fitness goals at school.

Additionally, this team of educators conducts trainings and builds dynamic fitness opportunities and partnerships where firefighters, high school leaders, military personnel, health plan representatives, and other community organizations can volunteer and come together to improve the health of the whole school community.

“We applaud Yvette, Lisa, Denise, Brandy and Michelle for being a force for healthy change in our schools,” said Linda Puu, vice president of Quality, Safety and Care Experience at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. “They are a dynamic team that encourages students to embrace physical activity and inspires other educators to promote health and wellness at school, which makes for a more vibrant and thriving community.”