Teachers from Big Island Honored for Their Achievements
16 Teachers Vie for Hawaii's State Teacher of the Year Title
The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) has announced the names of 16 teachers statewide as contenders for the 2026 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year. Among them are educators from various complex areas, including Dawn Spurrell-Robinson from the Hilo-Waiakea complex, who teaches pre-K through sixth grade.
These teachers were recognised for their excellence in their respective complex areas. The selected teacher will represent Hawaii in the National Teacher of the Year program, a prestigious honour that selects one outstanding teacher annually from all the state winners.
The selection process for the National Teacher of the Year involves local recognition, then state selection, and finally nomination to the national program. Candidates for State Teacher of the Year are first recognised at complex area and charter school levels before advancing to the state-level competition.
In addition to the 15 complex area teachers, one teacher was recognised specifically for state public charter schools but is not among the 16 contenders for the 2026 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year.
The Hawaii State Teacher of the Year will be chosen from the 16 teachers announced by the HIDOE in September. Some of the notable contenders include Jodi Kadoyama, Curriculum Coordinator at Mānana Elementary in Pearl City-Waipahu, and Emily Mendoza, Culinary Arts teacher at 'Aiea High School.
Superintendent Keith Hayashi stated that this year's Teachers of the Year demonstrate the impact of dedicated educators in preparing students for global competitiveness and local commitment. Among the contenders is Judith Elise Hannigan, who teaches English at Keaau High in the Ka'u-Keaau-Pahoa complex, and Steve Hanks, who teaches 11th- and 12th-grade math at Honoka'a High and Intermediate in the Honoka'a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena complex area.
The National Teacher of the Year program honours one teacher selected from over 13,000 HIDOE educators annually. The Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year, once announced, will represent the state in this esteemed program.
