HI HR203

Congratulates Jessica Canyon as the 2026 Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area Teacher of the Year, a fifth-grade teacher at Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary School who serves as grade-level chair and mentors new teachers.

Recognizes Natsumi Yamasato as the 2026 Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex Area Teacher of the Year, a former architect from Japan who leads STEM programs at Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School and organizes STEM Night attracting over 1,000 attendees.

Honors Jodi Kadoyama as the 2026 Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area Teacher of the Year for nearly 15 years of service at Mānana Elementary School as teacher and curriculum coordinator.

Celebrates Mānana Elementary School as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School, with students exceeding statewide averages by 24 percentage points in English, 39 points in math, and 36 points in science.

Commends Teach For America Hawaiʻi for 20 years of service since its 2006 founding, impacting over 50,000 students primarily in high-need communities across the state.