Teachers Meet Standards
Hawaii’s public school classrooms include hundreds of teachers who have completed the rigorous process of meeting national teaching standards. This past school year alone, 59 new candidates successfully completed the months-long course and benchmarks, and another dozen instructors renewed their certification.
Among the 2012 teachers who have met National Board of Professional Teaching Standards requirements are nine individuals who live and/or teach on the Windward side. According to the official state list, they are Dawn Fraser, a Kailua High counselor from Kaneohe; Karin Hansen Del Rey, a Kahuku High and Intermediate English teacher from Hauula; Shiloh Richardson, a Castle High social studies teacher; Gwynne Staton, a King Intermediate math teacher; Amy Swiderski, a Kahuku High and Intermediate science teacher from Hauula; Malia Vaughn, a Castle High social studies teacher; Rebecca Hirakami, a Kalihi Kai Elementary teacher from Kaneohe; Sheldon Ormsby, a Mililani High world language teacher from Laie; and Natalie Wong, an English teacher from Kaneohe.
“Every day, these accomplished teachers are having a positive impact on students in Hawaii,” said Terry Holck, who chairs the Hawaii State Teacher Standards Board.
At a recognition ceremony earlier this year. Gov. Neil Abercrombie also pointed out: “These teachers exhibit an admirable commitment to excellence by voluntarily honing an demonstration their knowledge and skills through a nationally recognized model of performance-based assessments.”
Teaching standards will go up again next summer.
