Our Board
Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board Members
The Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board’s 17 members represent key education stakeholder groups, which include:
- Six licensed teachers, one of whom must be from a Charter School
- Three administrators
- State of Hawaiʻi Board of Education Chairperson or designee
- State Superintendent of Schools or designee
- Dean of the College of Education (COE) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa or designee from member institutions of the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee
- Two members of the public
- Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) representative
- Native Hawaiian Education Council (NHEC) Chairperson or designee
- Student Teacher, non-voting member from the University of Hawaiʻi system teacher preparation program
Licensed Teachers
KRISTI MIYAMAE, HTSB CHAIRPERSON, is a 7th-grade teacher at Mililani Middle School on Oʻahu. She has been teaching in Hawaiʻi's public schools since 2002. Her bachelor's degree, with an emphasis in Computer Aided Graphic Design, is from San Diego State University, and her Master of Education in Special Education is from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Kristi believes in working collaboratively with the board to uphold professional standards in education and to promote highly qualified, licensed teachers for our students. She would like to see Hawaiʻi as a progressive model in the areas of teacher preparation and licensing.
DONDRA OZAKI, HTSB VICE CHAIRPERSON, is a Student Services Coordinator at Ewa Elementary School on Oʻahu and has over 20 years of experience with the Department of Education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. As a board member, Dondra is dedicated to contributing to the ongoing improvement of professional standards, ensuring the continuous elevation of the teaching profession, and delivering the highest quality education to all students in Hawaiʻi.
DAWN RAYMOND is a Special Education Teacher at Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School (CKES). Prior to teaching at CKES, she taught at Waiākea High School. She has been with the Department of Education since 2003. Dawn has a Certificate of Completion in Human Services and her Associate in Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Hawaiʻi Community College. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Special Education from City University in Seattle, Washington, and has her Master’s in Autism Spectrum Disorder from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Dawn previously served as the Hilo Chapter President/Vice President for the Hawaiʻi State Teacher Association (HSTA) and continues to serve as a trustee for the HSTA VEBA Trust. She served on the HSTA State Special Education Committee and has served as a Liquor Commissioner for Hawaiʻi County.
DALE MATSUURA is a Student Services Coordinator at Roosevelt High School with over 22 years of experience within the Department of Education (DOE) as a Special Education teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and Student Services Coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, a post-baccalaureate, and a master’s degree in Special Education. Dale currently holds positions on the Joint DOE / Special Education Committee and Special Education Advisory Council. Dale believes that having licensed and qualified teachers in every classroom will lead to increased teacher retention and successful classrooms.
NATASHYA K. NIHIPALI is a teacher at Kamaile Academy Public Charter School in Waiʻanae, Oʻahu. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, as well as a Master of Education with a concentration in Child Development from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Natashya has worked with community-based organizations such as Hawaiʻi Literacy and INPEACE’s Ka Lama Education Academy, which support community members in becoming high-quality teachers in their home communities through college support, mentorship, and professional training. As an educator and board member, she is committed to upholding high professional standards, valuing continuous learning and professional growth, and ensuring that every child in Hawaiʻi has access to a quality education.
Educational Officers
DR. KATINA SOARES is a former student and the current principal of Molokai High School. Her own negative experiences with school led her to drop out of public school after the 10th grade and dedicate her life to improving education for future students. She now has over 20 years of experience in education and administration. She has been a Student Support Specialist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Maui College, a School Counselor in middle and high school, and an administrator of PreK through high school institutions in both Public Charter and Department of Education schools. Dr. Soares is a strong advocate and supporter of education innovation, creativity, and imagination. She is a School Retool Fellow, a member of the Hawaiʻi Innovative Leaders Network, and has done extensive work with the What School Could Be organization. Dr. Soares believes that, when delivered effectively, education can give the next generation not only the knowledge and skills but also the passion and power to become agents of positive change in the world. As an Educational Officer representative on the board, she intends to advocate for quality teacher education programs and licensing protocols that will promote educators to positively impact the trajectory of success for Hawaiʻi students.
JUSTIN S. N. MEW was educated in the Hawaiʻi public school system and has been an educator in the same system for 42 years. He has earned three degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH-Mānoa) College of Education (B.Ed.-Science Education, M.Ed.-Curriculum and Instruction, and M.Ed.-Educational Administration). He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Telecommunications and Information Resource Management from UH-Mānoa. He is beginning his 10th year as Head of School/Principal at Henry J. Kaiser High School. He has also served as a Principal at Middle and Elementary Schools, a high school science teacher, and a State Educational Specialist. Principal Mew firmly believes that student growth and learning are directly related to having a highly effective, fully licensed teacher who was trained by an accredited Educator Preparation Program.Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) Representative
DEANNA D’OLIER is the Executive Director-Elect and currently serves as the Associate Director of the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS). With over two decades of experience in education—spanning both teaching and administrative roles—she plays a pivotal role in creating and organizing professional development programs and oversees the accreditation and licensing processes for private schools across Hawai‘i. Deanna holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communications from New York University and a master’s degree in Private School Leadership from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. A native of Puerto Rico, she moved to Oʻahu in 2002, where she resides with her husband and two daughters.Public Members
JONATHAN GILLENTINE is a National Board Certified Teacher and, in 2017, retired as a Hawaiʻi public school teacher after 36 years of service. He is a four-time graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His most recent classroom experience was at Reverend Benjamin Parker School, where he was a preschool teacher in an inclusive setting for nearly 20 years. During his time at the school, he grew to love supporting his peers in strengthening their teaching by facilitating professional development in Early Childhood Education. From 2003 to 2015, he conducted 15 courses. Jonathan was a teacher representative on Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board from 2004-2010, serving as its chair for four years. In 2014, he was the first recipient of the teacher leadership licensure field. He has also received three national teaching awards and three teacher fellowships. Jonathan was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2017. He continues to provide support for National Board Certification candidates as he has done since 2005.
DAPHNE OKUNAGA is an educator with nearly 20 years of secondary teaching experience in mathematics and business and currently serves as an Instructional Specialist with Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education. She holds an M.Ed., an MBA, and an HTSB Secondary Mathematics license, and has led CTE math integration, academy development, statewide curriculum and trainer work. Daphne led the International Business & Design Academy to earn NCAC’s Model Academy With Distinction and was named the 2022 National Career Academy Teacher of the Year and champions public education as a Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance alumna and a Pacific Century Fellow. Her awards include the 2017 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and 2023 Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi Teacher of the Year. Daphne is committed to strengthening career pathways and college readiness to ensure Hawaiʻi students graduate prepared for success.
Ex Officio Members
ROY TAKUMI (Kahele Dukelow, DESIGNEE) was born and raised in Honolulu, where he attended Maʻemaʻe Elementary School, Kawananakoa Middle School, and McKinley High School. After graduating from high school, he joined the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard and then attended Leeward Community College while working full-time at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard as a laborer. He later earned his Bachelor of Education from Long Island University and Master of Public Administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Takumi served as a state representative from 1992 to 2022. In addition to holding other chairmanships, he spent 15 years – from 2002 to 2017 – as chair of the House Education Committee, and was the primary sponsor of the Reinventing Education Act of 2004, widely known as Act 51. It was also during his tenure as education chair that the Executive Office on Early Learning was established in 2012. Takumi was selected as vice chair of the Education Commission of the States from 2013-2017, and has also served as co-chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Education Standing Committee.
KEITH T. HAYASHI (Dr. Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, DESIGNEE) was appointed superintendent of the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, effective July 1, 2022. Hayashi’s 32-year career with the department spans the school, complex area, and state level. He has led Waipahu High School as principal since 2009, a position for which he has received numerous awards, including Hawai‘i High School Principal of the Year and the collegiate Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction. He is credited with pioneering the Early College program in Hawai‘i public schools and earned the distinction for Waipahu High as the state’s first nationally recognized wall-to-wall academy model school. Hayashi began his education career at Lehua Elementary as a teacher and went on to serve as a district resource teacher in Leeward O‘ahu. He also served as a Vice Principal and Principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels before becoming Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area Superintendent. At the state level, he served as interim Deputy State Superintendent and as interim State Superintendent in 2017. Hayashi earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UH-Mānoa). He also holds two Master of Education degrees — in Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Administration — from UH-Mānoa.
NATHAN MURATA (Dr. Jamie Simpson Steele, DESIGNEE) is Dean of the College of Education (COE) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH-Mānoa), effective January 1, 2018. He previously served as professor and graduate chair of the college’s Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science (KRS). Dr. Murata earned his Ph.D. in Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance from the Ohio State University. He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Secondary Education and a certificate in Special Education from UH-Mānoa and taught Special Education as a Honolulu District Physical Education teacher. Murata also taught at Saint Louis School and was later hired as Director of its Athletics Department. Prior to being hired at UH-Mānoa, Dr. Murata was an Assistant Professor at Chaminade University’s College of Education and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo’s Department of Health and Human Performance. He then returned home to Hawaiʻi and was hired at COE in 1997 as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted and received tenure as an Associate Professor in 2001 and subsequently promoted to Professor in 2008. Murata held two separate terms as KRS department chair from 2004–2009 and again from 2013–2017, and served as interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2010–2012, when he provided oversight for the college’s academic affairs.
DR. MARK SUNG ALAPAKI LUKE (Dr. Dion Dizon, DESIGNEE) is a Professor at Honolulu Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Alapaki teaches Hawaiian Studies, Geography, Curriculum Studies, and Hawaiian Language. Dr. Luke is an alumnus of the EdD Leadership and Innovation at NYU, and his research focused on increasing the Native Hawaiian Capacity at the University of Hawaiʻi. He is also a STEMS2 Master’s and Geography/Hawaiian Studies alumnus at UH Mānoa. Alapaki participated as an East-West Center Degree Fellow (2001-2003). He plants kalo (taro) in Kahana Valley on the island of Oʻahu and enjoys sharing the experience with his students, community groups, and international communities. He has worked with numerous private/public schools and community groups with Native Hawaiian Culture, instilling a sense of place and Native Hawaiian Culture/Language within their curriculum.