Kaiser, Kaimuki Lauded For Excellent Leaders
Two area public school administrators have won fall trips to the East Coast for their roles in bringing out exceptional performance on campus.
As Kaiser High School’s principal since 2008, John Sosa is one of Hawaii’s top leaders cited by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and MetLife for 2012-2013.
Sosa will attend an NASSP institute Sept. 18-21 in Washington, D.C, for awardees from every state, along with Kaimuki Middle School vice principal Celia Main-Anakalea and King Intermediate principal Sheen Alaiasa.
(Alaiasa was named National Middle Level Principal of the Year in a surprise announcement at a school assembly Aug. 29 in Kaneohe. For more on the award, see the Newsmaker story in today’s main MidWeek.)
Under Sosa’s watch, Kaiser pursued the difficult path to gaining accreditation as an authorized International Baccalaureate school – a goal it achieved in 2010. The Hawaii Kai school also has seen marked improvement in reading and math scores. Despite the award, Sosa likes to spread the credit around: “A leader, we all know, cannot do it alone,” he wrote on his application. “In fact, it is the faculty and staff working with parents and community that move a school toward that goal.”
Main-Anakalea follows in the footsteps of her principal Frank Fernandes, who won the MetLife award last year. She came to Kaimuki Middle School in 2005 and has worked closely with Fernandes, his team and staff to create a nurturing campus community.
The September institute will serve as a forum for principals to share best practices and meet with national education leaders and legislators.
NASSP is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school administrators in the U.S. and in 38 countries worldwide.
