Superintendent’s Report to the Board of Education, February 2026
In the February 2026 report to the Board of Education (BOE), Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Administration Tammi Oyadamori-Chun provided an update on federal education funding, sharing that Hawai‘i expects to receive a similar amount of funding for major programs in federal FY2026 to support programs and personnel for the 2026-27 school year.
She also provided an update on the new financial literacy graduation requirements, which will require the Class of 2030 to complete a financial literacy learning experience in order to graduate.
Deputy Superintendent Oyadamori-Chun closed by recognizing recent Hawaiʻi State Department of Education achievements including:
- The Hawaiʻi Association of Secondary School Administrators 2026 awardees: Christine Udarbe of Nānākuli High & Intermediate as the High School Principal of the Year; Mavis Tasaka of Governor Sanford B. Dole Middle as the Middle School Principal of the Year; and Brandon Lee of Prince David Kawānanakoa Middle as the Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.
- Waipahu High School senior Lotus Yasuda as one of two high school students to represent Hawai‘i in the U.S. Senate Youth Program.
- Salt Lake Elementary, Mililani Middle, Waihe‘e Elementary and Holomua Elementary, which received invitations to compete in national and international FIRST LEGO League competitions.
- 2026 Hawaiʻi Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) conference honorees: Troy Sueoka as Administrator of the Year; Fern White as Counseling & Career Development Professional of the Year; and Renee Blue (Waipahu Intermediate) as ACTE Teacher of the Year.
- ‘Ewa Makai Middle School and the middle school grades at Waialua High & Intermediate School as the inaugural middle-level Hawai‘i Schools of Democracy honorees.
- The Department’s AINA Kitchen groundbreaking as well as Kealakehe Elementary’s classroom building blessing.
