BIG wishes congratulations to Ka‘ū High & Pahala Elementary Principal Sharon Beck on winning the prestigious 2023 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
BIG also wishes congratulations to semi-finalists Kapolei High Principal Wesley Shinkawa and Koloa Elementary Principal Leila Maeda-Kobayashi! Strong public school leaders making a difference for students!
In March 15 Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) principals – one from each complex area – were honored as the latest nominees for the 17th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
The 2023 principal-nominees, who each received a $1,000 prize, are:
- Sharon Beck, Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary (Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Area)
- Kori Takaki, Kahakai Elementary (Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena)
- Lisa Souza, Waiākea Intermediate (Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area)
- U‘ilani Kaitoku, Hau‘ula Elementary (Castle-Kahuku Complex Area)
- Suzie Lee, Mā‘ili Elementary (Nānākuli-Wai‘anae Complex Area)
- Nathan Maeda, Maunawili Elementary (Kailua-Kalaheo Complex Area)
- Leila Maeda-Kobayashi, Kōloa Elementary (Kapa‘a-Kaua‘i-Waimea Complex Area)
- Amy Martinson, Highlands Intermediate (Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area)
- Komarey Moss, Red Hill Elementary (‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area)
- Jason Nakamoto, Leilehua High (Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area)
- Chad Okamoto, Pu‘u Kukui Elementary (Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko‘i-Maui Complex Area)
- Jacqueline Ornellas, Lincoln Elementary (Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area)
- Christopher Sanita, Hāna High and Elementary (Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lāna‘i-Moloka‘i Complex Area)
- Wesley Shinkawa, Kapolei High (Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area)
- Jason Yoshimoto, Kamilo‘iki Elementary (Farrington-Kalani-Kaiser Complex Area)