WHEREAS, in light of the more prevalent attention given to our public education system, it is always a pleasure and privilege for the House of Representatives to recognize those exceptional people who have taken on the great responsibility of educating our youth, and have achieved great success in doing so; and

WHEREAS, SHERI KOJIMA, Hawaii's 2006 Teacher of the Year, encourages students to look within themselves and search for their own personal strengths, talents, skills, and abilities, as she serves as the business education teacher and advisor to her students at Waiakea High School; and

WHEREAS, COLLEEN UEJO, the 2006 Honolulu District Teacher of the Year, has provided exemplary service as a special education teacher at Linapuni Elementary School, and became a teacher because of her love of children and her earnest desire to teach them the skills they need to get them through life; and

WHEREAS, JOANNE FUJITA-OSHIRO, the 2006 Central District Teacher of the Year, wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten and in accomplishing that goal, has experienced a rewarding and fulfilling career as a first grade teacher at Helemano Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, MAKANOE KAWASAKI, the 2006 Leeward District Teacher of the Year, is a first grade Hawaiian immersion teacher at Waiau Elementary School, works mentoring inservice teachers and considers it a triumph when university students gain an understanding of teaching excellence because she knows that not only has she affected their lives but the lives of their students as well; and

WHEREAS, EVELYN OSHIMA, the 2006 Windward District Teacher of the Year, is a second grade teacher at Puohala Elementary School and continues to teach because she still experiences the joy of teaching and holds on to the personal desire to see her students grow intellectually and socially; and

WHEREAS, LINDA YONEMURA, the 2006 Maui District Teacher of the Year, firmly believes that praise goes a long way in boosting a child's confidence and motivation to perform better, and in her role as the business education teacher at Molokai High School, makes sure to praise students when they have done well both inside and outside of class; and

WHEREAS, RYNE TERAO, the 2006 Kauai District Teacher of the Year, uses the same 'test and tune' method applied in auto racing to constantly test his students' knowledge and then adjust his own lessons on career and technical education for the students of Kapaa Middle School; and

WHEREAS, through their dedication and commitment to serve Hawaii's children, Sheri Kojima, Colleen Uejo, Joanne Fujita-Oshiro, Makanoe Kawasaki, Evelyn Oshima, Linda Yonemura, and Ryne Terao have proven themselves worthy of being honored as teachers and role models for our Hawaii public school community; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body hereby honors and commends Sheri Kojima as the 2006 Hawaii State Teacher Of The Year, and Colleen Uejo, Joanne Fujita-Oshiro, Makanoe Kawasaki, Evelyn Oshima, Linda Yonemura, and Ryne Terao for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to public education in Hawaii, and extends to them its sincere mahalo for a job well-done and best wishes for success in all future endeavors.

Report Title:

Hawaii's 2006 Teachers of The Year