Yeah. Yeah. The only reason why I say that is because in my community, I've been having a lot of uh um concerns that their student with the inclusion is being prior to the inclusion now they being bullied because they have their teacher assisting with the regular teacher in the inclusion. So when they leave classes, they're getting picked on knowing that they're in special education class. The reason why I bring this up is because previously nobody knew you was in a special education learning disability, emotionally handicapped, unless you're on a wheelchair, um knew that you was in special ed because the classes was secluded. I'm not saying that's the best way, but going forward being on the early, you know, doing this early learning board, can you guys look into a way of collaborating with with both sides? Because it is important to have the social inclusion, but if it's going to cause them to be bullied and not be able to um um produce um you know, the regular work, I say because I see it on both sides that is good.
I understand what you're saying, but as the early learning board, as you go up and start having this process, can you kind of intertwine or kind of entertain something like that when you guys, you know, doing the you guys whenever you guys do? You know what I mean, right, Chair? Okay. Thanks, sir. That's about it. I promise I'm not going to come back. You promise. Pinky promise. Okay. Um, sure. Sure. Yes. Go. Yeah. Thank you. Um, okay. So, you've heard the conversations previously about geography, urban versus rural. Um, want some of your thoughts on that spec specifically as it relates to we're talking about teacher standards certification, but then also reertification. [Music] Things evolve over time. And what's your perspective on that? because I have my own thoughts as far as maybe some of our rural schools. So, the rural schools do just naturally have more difficult time retaining and recruiting teachers in general.
And um and so and then I'm sure their access to getting professional development and reertification is an added difficulty on top of that. So, um hopefully my participation in the teacher standards board, we can collaborate and discuss these issues and and also um I am on the Hawaii the HSTA joint special education um committee with the DOE and hopefully together we can bridge because that's my that's my priority is retaining and recruiting highly qualified teachers. Wow. And and recruiting teachers is difficult at best and I know housing's an issue. We have all of those challenges ahead of us. Um I just want to be sure that we don't know what the terminology is, leave kids behind as we're trying to fix something. I worry that we have a few years of kids that as we're changing our program or identifying it, we don't attend to those kids.
we fix it for later kids, but those kids are kind of in a never neverland. Um the thoughts on that? Um in terms of um well if if we have a problem with a program the reertification say we may get a couple of kids or a couple of years where we're not getting a very good education and though we fix the problem for those kids it's a lifetime and we may miss them. Is there a way and you I don't expect an answer from you, but this is a concern I've had. Um thoughts on that. So I noticed something similar when my son was entering elementary and there was a shift to common core from HSSE to common core and you know the math the change in math acquisition um it put some students in a gap in in that adjustment period. And so, um, you know, that is a difficult, um, that's a difficult situation for those kids to be in, but hopefully, you know, with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and having highly qualified teachers in every classroom, um, no matter what the shift is, those qualified teachers will identify students through the help of the systems in the school.
So, you know, to me, the most important thing is getting those teachers in the classroom because that's, like you said, the first line. That's how you're going to um identify the kids and make sure people don't fall through the gaps. And I would ask that you keep that in mind as we go through some of the stuff. Let's all chair. Thank you. Thank you. Uh so, Dale, you have been serving on the board for a while. Uh no, uh just two meetings so far. Just two meetings. Okay. So in that two meetings because I I noticed on your question number four about the board staff um and then not communicate or interact with members of the legislature or other entities without board knowledge or approval. Has there been a problem or something? No, I just um we I had a um orientation. So in my first orientation meeting that was one of the things that were told to me.
So um that was the knowledge is um that we operate by sunshine. We don't um meet more than you know three people at a time. Well, two people can meet but not not three or more because of the appearance of um you discussing board things outside. Okay. But the interact with members of the legislature it says uh you wrote or other without board knowledge or approval. So you have to have approval to talk to us. I think if we're going in a group of three or more I see. Then you would need to Yeah. But if individually I could if two of us then we could. Okay. Okay. So you are you are referring to the actual board and not necessarily the actual the board staff. Yes. Oh I see. Okay. That clears it up. Uh what is the relationship with the um director of the of the teacher standard board?
Um who's the head of the teacher standard board? Not the on the board, but the executive director. That executive director um Felicia. Yeah. Okay. Um Okay. No, I was just I didn't realize uh she was here. I just didn't see her on the testifiers list, so I was just a little bit and then I read that about your about the staff, so I wasn't sure who you were referring to when you talked about that. Um you um in question number five you you didn't really respond to the question about transparency and accountability. So, at every board meeting, um, executive director Villa Lobo, she shows us her meeting, um, and all of the things that she participates in and she aligns that with the standards that she's rated to. Um, so that's one area that we, um, are accountable and transparent with her on what she does.
Um yeah and I think as I sit in on more meetings um then I will see the transparency and and work together with her more. Okay. And but you think that transparency and accountability is important. Yes. Right. Okay. Because Yeah. That's part of the board. And I know the board you have like 17 members on the board. So that's a large board. Um um so I'm not sure in your two meetings have you So we do have um committees. So I've gotten to know uh a little bit the um people in my two committees a little bit more but yes it is a larger board and we are meeting virtually still. So so I don't get to know I haven't gotten to know them yet that well. What kind of attendance has you've seen in the two month two times you've been in? So, I've seen um almost perfect attendance.
Maybe um someone one person may be absent, but almost perfect attendance. Okay, good. Members, any other questions? I promise you I'll promise you. Okay, I'll just hold it. Okay, you got one more person you can lay it out on. I'm just going to wait because some of us got to go pickle ball after this. So, Oh, you playing pickle ball? Thank you very much. Appreciate your answers. Okay, we are on the last agenda item. Senator Favlla. Thank you. GM523 submitting for confirmation and consideration to the Hawaii Teacher Standard Board gven gubernatorial nominee Dandra Oak Zaki for a term to expire 6:30 2026. Testifying uh not Ted Ushiima, assistant superintendent um for Department of Education in support written only. Stan Thomas Shiro, principal testifying for Eva Elementary School in support. And with that, Dandra, would you like to give opening remarks? Aloha, Vice Chair Kim, and members of the committee.
My name is Dandra Wasaki, and I want to thank you for this opportunity to seek confirmation to be a member of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. I have 23 years of teaching experience in various roles such as a classroom teacher, an inclusion teacher, um English language learner, teacher, an instructional coach. Um I've also been a member of the instructional leadership team, and I'm a current student services coordinator at my school. Okay. I I wish to serve as a member of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board because I want to support policies and standards that promote teaching excellence. Thank you. Senator Favlla, your question. Yeah, that's a nice background. Where is that? Thank you. Uh it's my daughter actually uh graduated uh two a year ago from Boston and so this is actually uh the background of the house that we rented. Oh, thank you. So, I took the picture.
Yeah. Oh, I don't know. No question. Oh, you're cute. My son graduated out Boston as well. I don't recognize that, but it's very nice. Senator Richards, do you have anything I could ask questions while you No, go ahead. Yeah, thank you. Um, talk about the distance learning program you've been involved with. Sure. Um last year I was a um an instructional coach for the state distance learning program. It was a K to2 program that provided um distance and virtual learning for students across the state of Hawaii. And so I was the elementary coach. And so we serve students in kindergarten to fifth grade. And then we have a staff that delivers online instruction to students in elementary. And um was this born out of the the COVID era and carrying over? It did. it it was born out of that era out of need and then it did carry over to the next year and then this past year I wasn't with the program because I uh returned to my um current school in a different position but um they were able to serve students who were affected by the Maui fire and they were able to um bring aboard some of those students to provide them with education and I assume you've been listening to the conversation about um certification, reertification, attracting teachers, urban versus rural.
Comments on any of that? Um I actually grew up on the island of Kauaii. I'm um I graduated I I attended elementary all the way to high school on Kauaii. So I understand um coming from a rural area. Um my parents were also educators on Kauaii. And so I think that it's important to um be able to provide those types of things for teachers out in those rural areas. I think um using virtual options could be something that, you know, we could utilize because it could reach a wider audience. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Chair. Dandra, uh just a couple questions on your uh response. In question four, you do state that you expect staff to provide exceptionable exceptional customer service. Um, and your opinion are they? I think that they are um as as a classroom teacher before I had um experiences with the board.
Um, you know, it was time to renew your license. It was time to turn in your paperwork. And I've always gotten prompt responses from the staff. um I if I had a question I was able to email and utilize the website and um get the information that I needed. Okay. You also state that regarding your goals and expectation for board staff, you noted that you hold high standards for professionalism, responsiveness, and accuracy when interacting with members of the legislative body and other entities. How do you ensure this is being uh adhered to? I think that um during our meetings we will share what um you know what what will be shared with the legislature. Um in addition I think that sharing of information and making sure that the information that we have that is accurate is going to be shared. So when you say share you mean not just share among the board members but shared with the staff as well.
Shared with staff as well as as needed. And um like we we took a look at um some items at our last meeting. I'm sorry I only I only attended one meeting so far because I'm a brand new board member, but I was impressed at how we took a look at some of the items and made revisions to it to make sure that um what we were asking or what we were trying to communicate was clear and accurate. Okay, good. And finally, uh, what intrigued me is you stated a concern that since joining the board, the occurrence of teachers obtaining Hawaii teaching license but not actively teaching within the state. How that is how prevalent is that? Um, I think that it is it is something that's of a concern. I think as far as its prevalence, I need to learn a little bit more about it.
Being a new board member, it's something that I just learned about and I was actually very surprised that there are teachers who do not teach in the state of Hawaii that hold a hold a Hawaii teaching license. And I believe very strongly that we need to make sure that we keep those teachers in the state of Hawaii and they that they serve our students in the state of Hawaii because we do hold them to high standards. I I agree with you. So I appreciate you bringing this up. Um, do you feel that a policy or statutory change is needed to ensure that we can, you know, I know it's not going to be a perfect record, but we certainly want it. Um, I think in order to help retain teachers in the state of Hawaii or maybe even recruit teachers to the state of Hawaii, it would be good to um ensure that if they have a state of Hawaii teaching license, they should be teaching in our state.
Why why do you think that someone would go through the whole trouble of getting their teaching license and then not actively teach? They get another job, higher paying job or not in the area. It could be that um they might have been attracted to another job that is higher. Maybe it's the location they want to live in a different location. Um, I would have to learn more about why, you know, the causes of people getting a Hawaii teachers license and never using it in the state. I think, um, it was kind of surprising to me that so many people would have a Hawaii teachers license but not be here teaching. Well, I look forward to you taking the lead on this and if you can or the executive director can get back to us regarding what that numbers might be, um, might be illuminating. So, uh, appreciate that.
members, any other questions of our number? Yeah, just are you you are you currently at Ever Elementary School student yet? No, I am. I am. Okay. Well, I'll just say that because before I got elected, I tell you the truth, I live Ever Beach all my life and I never heard of the Lincoln Day celebration, believe it or not. So, that's how Ever Beach and Eva was separated. Never knew until I came on elected official, but that's one of the most traditional programs that I ever been a part of. And you guys do a great job every year. So thank you for that. Appreciate it, chair. Thank you very much. Thank you. Members, we'll go into right into decision making. Uh recommend GM522 for the consideration confirmation of guminatorial nominee for the teacher standard board de Matsua to advise and consent.
Any discussion? Hearing none. Chair votes I. Senator Ashimoto is excused. Senator Richard votes I. Senator Favlla. I chair, you have three in favor. Thank you very much. And for GM523 for the consideration confirmation to the Hawaii Teacher Standard Board, gumator nominee Dandra Oakaki, uh, advise and consent.
Any discussion? Hearing none, chair votes I. Chair votes I. Senator Richard votes I. Senator Favlla I. Chair, you have three in favor. Motion is adopted. Thank you very much. And with that we are adjourned meeting. All right.