HR215

WHEREAS, AARON TOMINAGA was recently named the National Association of Elementary School Principals' 2022 National Distinguished Principal; and

WHEREAS, AARON TOMINAGA's dedication as an educator spans 25 years; he started as a teacher at Waipahu High School and later worked as a teacher at Pearl City High School and served as the Principals at both Pearl City High School and Lehua Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, AARON TOMINAGA has served as Principal of Waipahu Elementary School since 2018, where he passionately leads over 950 students, of which nearly 50 percent are English Language Learners; and

WHEREAS, AARON TOMINAGA embraces an effective hands-on approach through regular meetings between teachers and curriculum coaches, differentiated professional development for teachers, and classroom data sharing to track students' academic progress, resulting in a notable decline in at-risk students in both English language arts and math for the past two years; and

WHEREAS, as a passionate leader, AARON TOMINAGA has worked tirelessly to engage and nurture the school community, consistently meets with staff and teachers, encourages open communication with families through accessible monthly coffee hours and newsletters, and strives for success in all aspects of his students' educational journey; and

WHEREAS, STACY KAWAMURA was recently named the National Association of Elementary School Principals' 2022 National Outstanding Assistant Principal; and

WHEREAS, as Vice Principal of Waikele Elementary School for seven years, STACY KAWAMURA has been instrumental in developing the school's nationally distinguished Academy Pathway Program, which began as an arts academy program, then expanded to include age-appropriate Career and Technical Education courses that align with the Waipahu Complex's commitment to career readiness and mission to establish pathways to college; and

WHEREAS, STACY KAWAMURA supports Waikele Elementary School teachers by fostering connections with other school academies; these connections resulted in the establishment of the nation's first Elementary Academy Pathway Program, which exposes students to a variety of career opportunities throughout their primary school education and eases their transition to complex area secondary schools; and

WHEREAS, STACY KAWAMURA works tirelessly to engage the local community and provide rich educational opportunities for Waikele students, and she is credited with building an effective educational framework, based on real-world experiences, to nurture professional growth and help instill a collaborative school culture that is deeply connected to family and community; and

WHEREAS, SHELLEY LAU recently received the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians' 2022 Golden Key Award; and

WHEREAS, prior to being a dedicated librarian at Aina Haina Elementary School, SHELLEY LAU served as webmaster for the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians, taught online professional development courses on eBooks for Hawai‘i Department of Education educators, participated in Hawai‘i Department of Education School Library Media Services events, and led numerous Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians conferences; and

WHEREAS, in addition to supporting the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians, SHELLEY LAU has been an invaluable resource to her profession; she is committed to nurturing and preparing future school librarians and has mentored and inspired many librarians throughout her illustrious career; and

WHEREAS, SHELLEY LAU's schoolwide literacy programs highlight the value of having a certified school librarian who understands the value of effective educational programming; she is instrumental in assisting students in learning critical thinking, effective communication, and self-management and research skills; and

WHEREAS, the impact of SHELLEY LAU's work is a testament to the care and aloha she feels for the community of Aina Haina Elementary School and her ability to elevate the profession and uplift her colleagues as a librarian; and

WHEREAS, JOANNA DUNN recently received the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians' 2022 Outstanding Library Service Award; and

WHEREAS, JOANNA DUNN has served Hawai‘i's students for over three decades as a teacher, technology coordinator, and resource teacher; and

WHEREAS, throughout her career, JOANNA DUNN has touched the lives of countless students at Aiea High School, Waipahu High School, and Blanche Pope Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, committed to excellence, JOANNA DUNN has been the educational specialist for Library Media Services in the Department of Education's Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design for the past eight years where she works to promote and support innovative school library media programs and services as a valuable resource for students and teachers; and

WHEREAS, the impact of JOANNA DUNN's work is a testament to the care and aloha she feels for school libraries throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, SHELY CHANG was recently named the Hawai‘i School Counselor Association's 2023 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year; and

WHEREAS, SHELY CHANG earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies with a certificate in Women's Studies and her Master of Arts degree in School Counseling from the University of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, for the past 18 years, SHELY CHANG has served as the counselor at Ka‘imiloa Elementary School, where she is committed to promoting programs and activities focused on the health and wellness of students as well as the greater school community; and

WHEREAS, through her membership with the Hawai‘i School Counselor Association and American School Counselor Association, SHELY CHANG helped Ka‘imiloa Elementary School receive national RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) recognition for schools committed to delivering comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs aligned with the American School Counselor Association National Model framework; and

WHEREAS, SHELY CHANG has served in several important roles throughout her career, including service with the Peer Mediator Advisory, Student Council Advisory, Ho‘okui after-school enrichment program, and has organized countless school functions; and

WHEREAS, SHELY CHANG is recognized as an innovative contributor who vastly advanced the social and emotional needs of her students by providing an excellent counseling program and is fiercely devoted to the Ka‘imiloa Elementary School community; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i, Regular Session of 2023, that this body hereby congratulates AARON TOMINAGA for being named the National Association of Elementary School Principals' 2022 National Distinguished Principal, STACY KAWAMURA for being named the National Association of Elementary School Principals' 2022 National Outstanding Assistant Principal, SHELLEY LAU for receiving the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians' 2022 Golden Key Award, JOANNA DUNN for receiving the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians' 2022 Outstanding Library Service Award, and SHELY CHANG for being named the Hawai‘i School Counselor Association's 2023 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year, commends their outstanding accomplishments and community involvement, and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all their future endeavors.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

2022 National Distinguished Principal; 2022 National Outstanding Assistant Principal; 2022 Golden Key Awardee; 2022 Outstanding Library Service Awardee; 2023 Hawaii School Counselor of the Year

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	215
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII