Ige Appoints Executive Office on Early Learning Director

Lauren Moriguchi has become the new director of the Executive Office on Early Learning, a role appointed by Governor David Ige.

Under the role, Moriguchi will coordinate early childhood education services that are being offered within the public school system, as well as guide policy involved in the expansion of early childhood education through collaboration with legislators and the government.

A born and raised O’ahu resident, Moriguchi has been in the education field for over 15 years. She has served as an educational specialist at the state Department of Education, a preschool teacher, special educator, resource teacher, mentor teacher, and educational specialist on both district and state levels.

Moriguchi works with Special Olympics Hawai’i and is also an instrumental part of the development of the Young Athlete’s program. The program provides children between the ages of two-and-a-half and seven-years-old with a learning environment that is developmentally appropriate for children and parents. The program also provides leadership skills to middle and high school students.

With her bachelor’s degree in Child, Family, and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis on early childhood from the University of Idaho, Moriguchi also minored in Aging Studies. Presently, she is working towards a master’s degree in Curriculum Studies with an emphasis on early childhood.