LIHUE — Hawaii’s public education leaders are getting something that all schools need — money.
On Saturday, the Island Insurance Foundation recognized 14 outstanding state public school principals nominated for its 14th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.
Island Insurance Foundation President Tyler Tokioka presented each nominee with a $1,000 award.
Kalaheo School’s Erik Burkman is the semifinalist principal selected from Kauai.
“We hope that this award will showcase their leadership and inspire others to service in public education,” Tokioka said.
The top principal will receive $25,000: $15,000 designated for a school project of his or her choice and an additional $10,000 as a personal cash award. Two semifinalists will each receive a $2,000 personal cash award.
“It’s nice to be recognized, but really what it means is that the team here at our school is working together in an efficient, productive way for our students,” Burkman said. “Without everybody working together, sharing the vision and understanding our mission, this type of recognition would not be possible.”
“It’s kind of a verification that what we’re doing here as a team is working for our community and our students,” he added.
The recipient of the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award will be announced at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation Dinner on Thursday.
The award is named for Island Insurance founder Masayuki Tokioka, an immigrant from Japan who moved to Hawaii at age 12 and graduated from McKinley High School in 1921.
“My grandfather, Masayuki Tokioka, believed that education, integrity and hard work were the keys to success,” said Tyler Tokioka.
The award criteria is based on research done by the Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy at the University of Washington regarding the impact of school leadership on learning environments.
“We are trying to increase our ability to provide students experiences that generate innovative thinking,” Burkman said. “If we were to get the award, we would create some spaces in our school, they’re called Maker Spaces, to give students a place to explore, create, innovate, apply their thinking and hands-on constructs and experiences that help them make sense of what they’re learning and what they’re thinking.”
Special guests at the event included Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami and 14 complex area superintendents and their representatives, state Sens. Laura Thielen, Michelle Kidani and Donna Mercado Kim, and state Rep. Richard Onishi.
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John Steinhorst, reporter, can be reached at 245-0435 or jsteinhorst@thegardenisland.com.
