HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	218
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

CONGRATULATING VANESSA CHING AS THE 2018 STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, GREGG IHA AS THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR, DEL ONAGA AS THE WINDWARD DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR, NAOMI SALAVERIA AS THE HONOLULU DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR, ERIKA KANEO AS THE HAWAII DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR, FRANCINE HUGHES AS THE MAUI DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AMANDA FRETTO AS THE KAUAI DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND CRISTIN PRIOLO AS THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, VANESSA CHING is a national board certified elementary and special education teacher who has taught within the Hawai‘i Department of Education for fourteen years. VANESSA CHING holds many positions at Ewa Makai Middle School including, Green Program Coordinator, Year Book Advisor, as well as Student Activities Coordinator. VANESSA CHING's advocacy and lessons in green initiatives have inspired her students to reduce their carbon footprints and to extend this initiative throughout the entire school. Ewa Makai won the National Green Ribbon School Certification and is the only school statewide to have received this honor; and

WHEREAS, GREGG IHA has shown excellence in leadership as an educator in the DOE for thirty years. GREGG IHA earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education and professional diploma in Elementary Education from the University of Hawai'i College of Education and began his early career at Nānāikapono Elementary in Nānākuli on the Leeward coast of O‘ahu; and

WHEREAS, DEL ONAGA serves in the Windward District of O‘ahu and is a certified Career & Technical Education Teacher in Industrial and Engineering Technology and the lead teacher for the school's engineering academy. DEL ONAGA has taught at-risk youth at Olomana School for seven years; and

WHEREAS, NAOMI SALAVERIA is a certified special education and elementary education teacher at Liholiho Elementary School. NAOMI SALAVERIA emphasizes the importance of promoting each student's strength and confidence through a belief that expectations should be clear and consistent, every child's success should be celebrated, and that all students are capable of growth; and

WHEREAS, ERIKA KANEO, a national board certified elementary teacher, works with second and third graders at Waiākeawaena Elementary. ERIKA KANEO has established a foundation for cultivating success in the classroom based on three principles: Students learn best when they feel engaged, feel like they belong, and are given the opportunity to succeed; and

WHEREAS, FRANCINE HUGHES is a leader whose impact in the Department of Education has led to progressive change for over twenty years. FRANCINE HUGHES received her professional diploma and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Hawaii College of Education; and

WHEREAS, AMANDA FRETTO received her certification in special education as well as a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology. AMANDA FRETTO has refined and maintained the Unified Champions School Program and Team Unify through the Special Olympics. AMANDA FRETTO's outreach and peer mentorship via United Sound has afforded students with special needs with performance experience through the medium of music; and

WHEREAS, CRISTIN PRIOLO, certified special education and elementary education teacher at SEEQS Public Charter School, is a believer that students can find passion in an academic setting when they are able to connect their knowledge of real-world problems to their own personal experiences throughout life; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that this body hereby commends, congratulates, and honors VANESSA CHING, GREGG IHA, DEL ONAGA, NAOMI SALAVERIA, ERIKA KANEO, FRANCINE HUGHES, AMANDA FRETTO, and CRISTIN PRIOLO for their outstanding accomplishments and much-deserved recognition, and extends to them its sincere mahalo and best wishes for continued success in all their future endeavors.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Congratulating the 2018 Teachers of the Year