HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. NO.
203
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE RESOLUTION
CONGRATULATING THE 2026 FARRINGTON-KAISER-KALANI COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, the 2026 KAPAʻA-KAUAʻI-WAIMEA COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, the 2026 PEARL CITY-WAIPAHU COMPLEX AREA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, a 2025 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL, AND TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI.
WHEREAS, JESSICA CANYON was recently named the 2026 Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area Teacher of the Year; and
WHEREAS, a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education graduate with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, JESSICA CANYON has served with distinction as a fifth-grade teacher at Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, a dynamic educator with a proven track record at Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary School, JESSICA CANYON excels in classroom management and developing strong relationships; adept at differentiating instruction to meet diverse learning needs, she consistently enhances student engagement and performance through innovative lesson planning and effective parent-teacher communication; and
WHEREAS, believing that every student has enormous promise, JESSICA CANYON does her best to help her students fulfill their potential, creating safe, supportive, and inclusive environments that incorporate social-emotional learning; and
WHEREAS, in addition to planning and facilitating the school's May Day activities, JESSICA CANYON has served as grade-level chair and mentored the next generation of teachers to help the school maintain its vibrant culture and cherished traditions; she has also led efforts to inspire students to begin thinking about future careers, demonstrating her dedication to helping students flourish once they graduate from elementary school; and
WHEREAS, JESSICA CANYON has been recognized for her exemplary efforts and accomplishments, which serve as a testament to her vision to empower her students and enable them to succeed inside and outside the classroom; and
WHEREAS, NATSUMI YAMASATO was recently named the 2026 Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex Area Teacher of the Year; and
WHEREAS, a former architect and building engineer in Japan, NATSUMI YAMASATO believes that STEM education should include learning experiences relevant and meaningful to the lives of students and draws on her previous career to provide hands-on lessons with real-world applications; and
WHEREAS, renowned for her passion and ability to inspire her students to achieve greatness, NATSUMI YAMASATO advises student media productions that have been featured on national platforms like PBS NewsHour and has helped students earn the highest honors in state and national media and STEM competitions; and
WHEREAS, NATSUMI YAMASATO also leads Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School's STEM and innovation programs, coaches the science olympiad team, and is the driving force behind the most anticipated night on campus - STEM Night, an event that features twenty activity stations and attracts over one thousand attendees; and
WHEREAS, NATSUMI YAMASATO incorporates sustainability concepts and practices into her STEM curriculum, participating in innovative collaborations, such as Grove Farm's educational modules, that allow her students to trade in classrooms and textbooks for hands-on learning experiences involving algae innovations, water treatment plants, caves, farms, and solar power facilities; and
WHEREAS, JODI KADOYAMA was recently named the 2026 Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area Teacher of the Year; and
WHEREAS, consistently going above and beyond to support students and mentor fellow teachers, JODI KADOYAMA has provided nearly fifteen years of dedicated leadership and service to Mānana Elementary School, taking on various roles, including teaching kindergarten and fourth grade and serving as curriculum coordinator; and
WHEREAS, JODI KADOYAMA collaborates with faculty, staff, and the entire school community to create a culture that promotes integrity, respect for others, and a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for learning; she exemplifies the impact that motivated educators can have in preparing students to become globally competitive as well as locally committed; and
WHEREAS, a renowned educator, JODI KADOYAMA has developed and administered assessments to monitor student progress and collaborates with other teachers to analyze student data to identify areas of growth and areas that may require intervention; as a mentor to new teachers, she provides coaching and support and advocates for professional development and instructional materials to ensure continuous improvement in teaching practices; and
WHEREAS, always humble, JODI KADOYAMA credits her fellow educators for helping reinforce her passion for teaching and renewing her drive to improve in all aspects of the profession; she is respected and loved by the Mānana Elementary School ʻohana, including the thousands of students, parents, faculty, staff, and school supporters whose lives she has touched over the years; and
WHEREAS, MĀNANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL was recently named a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School; and
WHEREAS, as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School, MĀNANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has been recognized for meeting the performance award criteria for Exemplary High-Performing Schools; students at the school have demonstrated exceptional proficiency, exceeding statewide averages by twenty-four percentage points in English language arts, thirty-nine percentage points in math, and thirty-six percentage points in science; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of recently retired Principal Bryan Loo, MĀNANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has provided a high-quality, standards-based education that prepares students to thrive as responsible global citizens; and
WHEREAS, MĀNANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL emphasizes project-based learning, where students tackle real-world challenges that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, in addition to personalized learning and data-driven instruction to help every student reach their full potential; and
WHEREAS, MĀNANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL also promotes learning outside the classroom, with students having access to a wide variety of enriching extracurricular activities, including sports, student government, robotics, math olympiad, and book club; and
WHEREAS, TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI has provided twenty years of exemplary service and dedication to Hawaiʻi's youth; and
WHEREAS, founded in 2006, TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI has partnered with schools and communities across the State, cultivating and supporting a diverse network of locally rooted leaders who expand opportunities for keiki in the education system; and
WHEREAS, TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI's network of extraordinary leaders, consisting of educators, principals, district leaders, nonprofit directors, and advocates, shapes policy, teaches in classrooms, transforms schools, and builds organizations that strengthen our communities; and
WHEREAS, TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI prioritizes expanding access to high-quality education for keiki, improving literacy outcomes, and developing leaders to ensure all children can fulfill their potential; and
WHEREAS, TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI has made meaningful, sustainable change across the State, impacting over fifty thousand students, primarily in high-need communities; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaiʻi, Regular Session of 2026, that this body hereby congratulates JESSICA CANYON for being named the 2026 Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area Teacher of the Year, NATSUMI YAMASATO for being named the 2026 Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex Area Teacher of the Year, JODI KADOYAMA for being named the 2026 Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area Teacher of the Year, MĀNANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL for being named a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School, and TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAIʻI for providing twenty years of exemplary service and dedication to Hawaiʻi's youth and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors
OFFERED BY:
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Report Title:
2026 Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area Teacher of the Year; 2026 Kapaa-Kauai-Waimea Complex Area Teacher of the Year; 2026 Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area Teacher of the Year; 2025 Blue Ribbon School; Teach for America Hawaii