MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii Public Charter School Network (HPCSN) has announced the list of awardees who will be honored at the 2013-2014 Hawaii Charter Schools Awards on Thursday, May 15.

“We are excited to host our third annual Hawaii Charter School Awards dinner and to be able to recognize the direct and meaningful impact that public charter schools and those involved with public charter schools have in their community,” said Lynn Finnegan, executive director, Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network.

The final list includes three peer-nominated categories, Governing Board Member of the Year, Leader of the Year and Circle of Teaching Excellence.

Winners are as follows:

* HPCSN Legislators of the Year
Sen. Jill Tokuda and Rep. Ken Ito

* HCPSN Community Partner of the Year
Karen Street, First Insurance Company of Hawaii

* Charter School of the Year
Na Wai Ola Waters of Life Public Charter School, Mountain View, Hawaii

* Most Improved Charter School
Kamaile Academy Public Charter School, Waianae, Oahu

* Creating New Best Practices
Kona Pacific Public Charter School, Kealakekua, Hawaii
Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki Lab Public Charter School, Keaau, Hawaii

* Governing Board Member of the Year
K. Kehau Glassco, Ke Kula o Samuel Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School, Kaneohe, Hawaii

* Leader of the Year
Mahina Paishon-Duarte, Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School, Honolulu, Hawaii

* Circle of Teaching Excellence
Jonathan Kissida, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science, Pahoa, Hawaii
Leesa Foreman, West Hawaii Explorations Academy Public Charter School, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

The dinner is open to the public and tickets can be purchased by phone at 808-380-6403 or online at 2014hawaiicharterschoolawards.eventbrite.com.

Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network (HPCSN) is a 501c (3), non-profit organization established in 2000 to enable, support and unify public charter schools and the charter school sector in the State of Hawaii.

HPCSN links public charter schools in Hawaii to each other and to national charter efforts and provides information and services to schools and individuals interested in establishing, supporting and advocating for public charter schools in Hawaii.

HPCSN has gained momentum from a volunteer-led organization and evolved into a support and advocacy organization for public charter schools and nearly 11,000 students across Hawaii.

By building awareness and support of the charter school sector and providing member services and resources to strengthen the quality of programs and operations in charter schools, HPCSN fulfills a necessary role in Hawaii’s charter school movement.

— Find out more:
www.HawaiiCharterSchools.com