SSCR534

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 534

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 615, 616, 617

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 615, 616, and 617, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board

G.M. No. 615

LOUISE CAYETANO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

G.M. No. 616

JUSTIN MEW,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016; and

G.M. No. 617

FELICIA VILLALOBOS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Louise Cayetano, Justin Mew, and Felicia Villalobos to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board.

LOUISE CAYETANO

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Louise Cayetano from the Governor, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and five individuals.

Ms. Cayetano attended the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and Central Washington State University. She is currently a fifth grade teacher at Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary School in Honolulu. Ms. Cayetano previously taught at Leihoku Elementary School and Lanakila Elementary School.

Ms. Cayetano has served as a member of the Hawaii Science Teachers Association and the Executive Board of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. She has also served as a board member of the Alliance for Drama Education and is a member of the Hawaii Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa.

Ms. Cayetano has been successful in working with the University of Hawaii to earn Fern Elementary the technological tools, such as videoconferencing equipment, to allow her students to form partnerships with schools in Samoa and Japan. Ms. Cayetano was also instrumental in bringing the Asian, European, Pacific Language foreign language program to Fern Elementary. Ms. Cayetano is constantly looking for ways to provide her students with broader educational opportunities.

Ms. Cayetano currently serves as a member of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board.

Ms. Cayetano expressed to your Committee that she wishes to continue serving on the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board because she believes that all students deserve highly qualified teachers who can provide them with the necessary skills to become productive citizens.

Ms. Cayetano expressed to your Committee that it is important that the Board foster more connectivity with teachers in smaller communities and rural areas.

JUSTIN MEW

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Justin Mew from the Governor and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Mew received his Bachelor's degree in Education and Master's degrees in Secondary Education and Educational Administration from the University of Hawai‘i.

Mr. Mew is currently the Principal of Niu Valley Middle School. He previously served as the Principal of Aina Haina Elementary School, Vice Principal of Moanalua Intermediate School, Vice Principal of Aiea Intermediate School, and as a State Science Education Specialist.

Mr. Mew has received numerous awards and accolades and was named the Hawaii State Middle School Principal of the Year in 2011. In 2012, Mr. Mew was named Educator of the Year by Hawaii Smart Business.

Mr. Mew is a current member of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board and provides the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board with the perspective of a sitting principal and a trained/certified teacher intake interviewer for the Department of Education. These roles have given Mr. Mew the experience of evaluating teachers for hiring and continued employment.

As a current member of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, Mr. Mew has been integral in helping to develop the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board's strategic plan for 2011-2015.

Mr. Mew stressed to your Committee the importance of having highly qualified and highly effective teachers in the classroom in order to support maximum student learning and growth. It is Mr. Mew's belief that there is a direct correlation between teacher quality and student achievement. As such, Mr. Mew sees the responsibilities of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board to include establishing strong licensure standards and policies, prepare teachers for licensing, and screening out those who do not meet the standards.

Your Committee believes that Mr. Mew will continue to bring valuable experience, knowledge, and leadership to the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board.

FELICIA VILLALOBOS

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Felicia Villalobos from the Governor, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and six individual.

Your Committee finds that Ms. Villalobos received a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from California State University at Fresno. She went on to receive a Master's degree in Education from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Ms. Villalobos has served as an elementary school teacher for the past ten years and is currently a first grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary on the Island of Kaua‘i.

Ms. Villalobos also serves as a mentor to student teachers at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and is a Hawaii delegate to the National Education Association.

Ms. Villalobos testified that as a member of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, she has helped to facilitate a stronger line of communication between the Board and teachers on Kaua‘i, where Ms. Villalobos resides. Most recently, Ms. Villalobos has worked with the Homegrown Teacher Program on Kaua‘i to inform new teachers on the island of the role of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board and teacher licensing requirements.

Your Committee finds that Ms. Villalobos' commitment and passion for education continue to make her an outstanding asset to the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair