Kilauea principal among the best

Front row from left: Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent, Department of Education; Stacey Oshio, Olomana School (Oahu); Rachelle Matsumura, Honokaa High and Intermediate (Big Island); Elna Gomes, Keaau Middle (Big Island); Stacie Kunihisa, Kanoelani Elementary (Oahu); Alisa Ann Estrella Bender, Hickam Elementary School (Oahu); Cynthia Rothdeutsch, Kamalii Elementary (Maui); Deborah Nekomoto, Kapunahala Elementary (Oahu); and Dana Tokioka, Executive Director, Island Insurance Foundation. Back row from left: Colbert Matsumoto, Chairman, Island Holdings; Shannon “Cappy” Goo, Hahaione Elementary (Oahu); Heather Dansdill, Hilo Intermediate (Big Island); Michelle DeBusca, Ala Wai Elementary (Oahu); Sherry Gonsalves, Kilauea Elementary (Kauai); Jon Henry Lee, Campbell High (Oahu); Fred Murphy, Mililani High (Oahu); John Wataoka, Waianae Intermediate (Oahu); Tyler Tokioka, President, Island Insurance Foundation

HONOLULU The Island Insurance Foundation recognized 14 outstanding Hawaii public school principals nominated for its 15th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award on Saturday, March 30.

HONOLULU— The Island Insurance Foundation recognized 14 outstanding Hawaii public school principals nominated for its 15th annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award on Saturday, March 30.

Island Insurance Foundation President Tyler Tokioka presented each nominee with a $1,000 personal cash award.

Members of the community joined Island Insurance Foundation to honor the principals on Saturday. These special guests included Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami and Complex Area Superintendents.

The recipient of the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award will be announced at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation Dinner on Thursday, April 18.

The selected principal will receive a total of $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.

Sherry Gonsalves of Kilauea Elementary was among the 14 nominated public school principals.

The award is named after Island Insurance founder Masayuki Tokioka, an immigrant from Japan, who moved to Hawaii at age 12 and graduated from McKinley High School in 1921. He earned a bachelor of arts at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a master of business administration in international commerce from Harvard University in 1927. His business career spanned 70 years.

“My grandfather, Masayuki Tokioka, believed that education, integrity and hard work were the keys to success,” said Tyler Tokioka. “Everything that he achieved was only possible because the Hawaii public school system provided him with the foundation to pursue unlimited opportunities. This is why we are so honored to be able to recognize these principals who give so much to their students and our community.”

The award criteria are 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.

The study concluded that school and district leaders “can advance powerful and equitable learning.”

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