Since my appointment to the state Board of Education (BOE) on July 1, I have met individually with schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s leadership team. The work they are doing and the plans for our next steps are aligned with Gov. David Ige’s vision to embrace and enable systems for individual schools to be empowered to design their unique learning models.
All HIDOE employees who do not work in schools must be able to answer the question, “How does my work support teachers and students?” This may seem obvious, but it is a new way of emphasizing how every position in the larger system exists to support the students and teachers in our schools. The BOE fully supports this direction and is engaged in helping move our system forward.
A recent commentary asserted dysfunction with Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) leadership as a reason not to increase funding for the Department of Education (“Schools’ problem, fundamentally, is dysfunctional DOE,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Sept. 16). There is a repetition of old issues that do not reflect what is happening now.
The innovation and shift I have seen so far include complex area superintendents working with principals to assess the professional development and financial resources that will be necessary to implement the new designs. Recently, more than $14 million in federal professional development funds that used to be distributed by the state offices have been sent to the complex areas for direct support to schools.
Each school has been charged with determining the unique design that best reflects their community and student needs. Waipahu High School has embraced early admission to college courses while enrolled in high school, and Kaiser High School has embedded the International Baccalaureate curriculum into their instructional program. We expect the same achievement outcomes, but schools may now determine how best to reach them.
Complex and school-level leaders are working hard to implement these new approaches. We now need to give them time to learn and to coach their teams; long-term, meaningful change does not happen overnight.
Those who want to support positive change must work collaboratively with the BOE, the governor, the Legislature, HIDOE, higher education, Hawaii State Teachers Association and the other unions, private education and business sectors, and all others in our relatively small community to create the excellent public education system we all want. There should not be an “us and them” in this effort.
The intention of the BOE and HIDOE is for there to be fewer directives from the state level about issues that are best managed by the school. Curriculum models and instructional practices top the list of these things. We are also reviewing our state testing program with a focus on how we can best assess our system for excellence and our students for learning. The voices of teachers, students and the community will need to be heard as we move through this discussion.
Our superintendent has supported individual schools with funds for innovative programs that meet their unique profiles, and more decisions are being made by school and complex area leaders. Some schools are already moving forward with designs that best address the needs of their students. For example, learning through an emphasis on fine arts is being implemented at Kalihi Kai Elementary School, and Waikiki Elementary has infused Philosophy for Children throughout all grade levels. We are just beginning this transformative process, but there is already substantial forward progress.
We invite the support and the scrutiny of all in the community as we blend our strengths in order to deliver on the promise and power of public education for the children of Hawaii.
Catherine H. Payne is chairwoman of Hawaii’s Board of Education.
