HR217

WHEREAS, JACKIE FREITAS was recently named the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually to a classroom teacher selected from more than 13,000 Hawaiʻi State Department of Education educators; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Freitas earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu and acquired an alternative certification for career and technical education from Leeward Community College; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Freitas has been a natural resources teacher at her alma mater, Leilehua High School, for her entire 13-year career; she is also enrolled as a candidate for National Board Certification in natural resources; and

WHEREAS, Leilehua High School's Natural Resources Program runs one of the State's largest high school agricultural farms, and under Jackie Freitas' leadership, the school developed an animal husbandry program, which offers students hands-on learning experiences in large and small animal systems; she has also integrated a variety of agricultural technology equipment, such as smart farms, farm bots, and vertical towers, into the curriculum; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Freitas enjoys engaging students in outdoor activities and providing project-based experiences that contribute to the well-being and enhancement of the Hawaiian community through environmental activism; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Freitas is a passionate educator committed to leading by example, who understands the importance of preparing students with real-world skills that extend beyond the classroom; and

WHEREAS, LAURIE CHANG was recently named the Honolulu District Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area 2024 Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, LAURIE CHANG has demonstrated a deep passion for teaching and learning while inspiring the students of Aliʻiolani Elementary School to strive for excellence; and

WHEREAS, LAURIE CHANG received a Bachelor of Science in fashion design, Professional Diploma in elementary education, and certification in special education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; and

WHEREAS, an educator since 1994, LAURIE CHANG started her educational career in general education and was a resource teacher for the gifted; she later found a passion for students with disabilities and providing support to their families and caregivers; and

WHEREAS, LAURIE CHANG has developed tact and earned respect through her leadership and involvement in the school's improvement process by serving as the curriculum coordinator and pursuing additional professional and personal growth opportunities within her community; she coordinates the school's technology program, accreditation process, library collection, and Title 1 program and is a mentor to beginning teachers; and

WHEREAS, LAURIE CHANG is committed to the success and personal growth of her students, with a focus on supporting students beyond the COVID-19 pandemic; she is determined to prioritize initiatives that allow for student success, contributing to academic and social development; and

WHEREAS, NORMAN RAY SALES was recently named the Honolulu District Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area 2024 Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, NORMAN RAY SALES brings a wealth of knowledge and range of experiences to the field of education as he was an English Department teacher and chair, a secondary math teacher, and a strategic planner; and

WHEREAS, NORMAN RAY SALES taught at Farrington High School for nearly eight years before becoming an Educational Specialist for the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education Na Kumu Alakaʻi Teacher Leader Academy; in this role, he is committed to uplifting fellow teachers and supports them in becoming leaders and agents of change by strengthening and refining their disposition, knowledge, and skills; and

WHEREAS, NORMAN RAY SALES has been recognized for his involvement with the State's Seal of Biliteracy designation, which celebrates the multilingualism of students; his work also led to an award-winning publication featuring students' multilingual poetry which was entitled, VOICE: Poetry by the Youth of Kalihi; and

WHEREAS, NORMAN RAY SALES displays a consistent commitment to the personal and professional development of Filipino students through his work with the Filipino Curriculum Project, which honors and encourages the incorporation of Filipino American history, culture, and identity into school studies; and

WHEREAS, NORMAN RAY SALES is held in high regard by his school community as the epitome of a selfless servant leader due to his extraordinary teaching career and well-deserved merits; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA has recently been named the Leeward District Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area 2024 Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA has dedicated over 25 years of his career to teaching across the State of Hawaiʻi at schools such as Roosevelt High School, Niu Valley Middle School, and Kapolei Middle School; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA teaches industrial engineering and technology at ʻEwa Makai Middle School and encourages his students to strive for excellence in creativity and innovation, especially within his engineering design and modeling wood lab; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA has spent his career mastering his specialization in industrial engineering and technology and thus demonstrates a consistent passion for teaching and learning within these fields; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA utilizes hands-on approaches to inspire his students to involve creativity in their problem solving endeavors related to industrial engineering and technology; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA shares this recognition with his mentors and colleagues who have supported his professional development that has led to student success inside and outside the classroom; and

WHEREAS, ARIEL VILLANUEVA's work is a testament to the care and aloha he feels for the students at ʻEwa Makai Middle School; and

WHEREAS, Donna Soriano was recently named the Leeward District Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area 2024 Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, DONNA SORIANO, an educator for nearly ten years, has demonstrated a deep passion for teaching and learning specifically in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); and

WHEREAS, DONNA SORIANO supports student led STEM initiatives by seeking additional funding sources, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association STEM Grants, Ed Ryglewics Innovation Grant Award, Cynthia Pacheco Coding Grant, Hawaiʻi Bowl Foundation Grant, and Teach for America's Extra Yard for Teachers Innovation Grant; and

WHEREAS, DONNA SORIANO's passion for STEM education extends beyond the classroom to involve enrichment programs, such as the Hui ʻEnehana program (Seahorse Tech Club), which was recognized as the 2024 State Winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition; and

WHEREAS, DONNA SORIANO has additionally been awarded numerous professional accolades, including the Hawaiʻi Education Association Ronald K. Toma Scholarship for Professional Development and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Middle Childhood Generalist Teaching Certificate; and

WHEREAS, DONNA SORIANO has served as a source of inspiration for her students of Waiʻanae Elementary School to strive for excellence; her commitment to providing students with a wealth of opportunities is a testament to the impact teachers can make inside and outside the classroom in their efforts to nurture young minds and foster a love for STEM; and

WHEREAS, GREGORY KENT was recently named the Windward District Kailua-Kalāheo Complex Area 2024 Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, GREGORY KENT obtained a bachelor's degree in education with a specialization in elementary education and a master's degree in educational technology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; and

WHEREAS, for over 21 years, GREGORY KENT has displayed an unwavering passion for and devotion to teaching and learning and has been known to consistently inspire his students to strive for excellence; and

WHEREAS, GREGORY KENT is passionate about innovation, which is reflected in his role as the Technology Coordinator at Kailua Elementary School and manager of "Kailua EleMakery", a makerspace that houses tools, electronics, 3D printers, lasers, and other building materials; and

WHEREAS, GREGORY KENT also coached the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Team for 15 years and mentored the Koʻolaupoko FIRST Robotics Competition community team for two years as a LEGO Education Ambassador; and

WHEREAS, GREGORY KENT is inspired by his colleagues to take risks in order to encourage and foster the personal and academic growth of his students; he dedicates his success to the unwavering support and inspiration he has received from the Kailua Elementary School staff and students; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaiʻi, Regular Session of 2024, that this body hereby congratulates JACKIE FREITAS, LAURIE CHANG, NORMAN RAY SALES, ARIEL VILLANUEVA, DONNA SORIANO, and GREGORY KENT for their outstanding accomplishments and much-deserved recognition as 2024 Teachers of the Year and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year; 2024 Teachers of the Year for School Complex Areas in the Honolulu District, Leeward District, and Windward District

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	217
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII