Teach for America Expands Advisory Board

Teach For America–Hawai‘i has added two Hawai‘i executives to its regional advisory board: Ann Botticelli (senior vice president of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of Hawaiian Airlines) and Scott Seu (senior vice president of Public Affairs at Hawaiian Electric Company.)

The leaders will guide the nonprofit organization as it recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding college graduates and professionals to teach for at least two years in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity.

“Teach For America–Hawai’i is honored to welcome these two community leaders to our regional advisory board,” said Jill Baldemor, executive director of Teach For America–Hawai‘i. “Ann and Scott bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership from their professional capacities as well as their work in our communities. We look forward to their guidance as we continue to strive for education equity for all of our keiki in Hawai‘i.”

Botticelli is the senior vice president of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs of Hawaiian Airlines Inc., a position she has held since October 2011. She oversees strategic external and internal communications, federal and state government relations and community relations for Hawai‘i’s largest and longest-serving airline.

Prior to joining Hawaiian Airlines, Botticelli served as vice president for Community Relations and Communications at Kamehameha Schools from 2005 to 2011; vice president of Communications at Child and Family Service from 2004 to 2005; and vice president of Corporate Communications at Communications Pacific from 2002 to 2004.

Prior to entering the communications field, Botticelli spent two decades as a news reporter in Honolulu, covering business, consumer affairs and state government for KITV-4, KHON-TV and The Honolulu Advertiser.

Botticelli holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Michigan State University. She serves on the board of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and is the president and founder of the Ho‘omalamalama Foundation, which is dedicated to creating educational tools that foster awareness of the environment and culture. She has also served on the boards of the Hawaiian Educational Council, the Ho‘okako‘o Corporation and Waialae School.

“The Teach for America model benefits both the young people who commit to teaching in public schools and the students whom they teach,” said Botticelli. “It is my honor to be able to help, however I can, a movement that has shown tremendous impact.”

Seu is senior vice president of Public Affairs at Hawaiian Electric Company, overseeing the company’s engagement with the community, media and government. He joined Hawaiian Electric in 1993 and has held numerous positions across the company, including in the areas of environmental management, customer programs and renewable energy project development. Prior to his current role, he served as vice president of System Operation overseeing the operation of the O‘ahu electric system.

Seu serves on the boards of the Bishop Museum and Hale Kipa. He is a Kamehameha Schools graduate and holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.

“Being from a family of public school educators, I understand the work Teach For America-Hawai‘i teachers and all of our teachers do every day to lift our children up and set them on a path forward is so critical to our community,” said Seu. “I’m extremely grateful for the chance to serve our public schools in a small way through Teach For America-Hawai‘i.”

Teach For America-Hawai‘i Regional Advisory Board

• H. Mitchell D’Olier, Chairman, Harold K. L. Castle Foundation
• Jeff Arce, Partner and CFO, The MacNaughton Group
• Trever Asam, Partner, Cades Schutte LLP
• Lisa Ayabe, Partner, Cades Schutte LLP
• Christine Bean, Program Manager, Roberts Foundation
• Ann Botticelli, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of Hawaiian Airlines
• Sharon Shiroma Brown, Senior Vice President, First Hawaiian Bank; President, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation
• Glen Kaneshige, President, Nordic Construction PCL
• Paul Kosasa, President and CEO, ABC Stores
• Ritchie Mudd, Founder & Former CEO, RSI Roofing and Building
• Sissie Pittullo, Child advocate, Attorney, and Educator
• Scott Seu- Senior Vice President, Public Affairs at Hawaiian Electric Company
• Candy Suiso, Executive Director, Searider Productions
• Sharlene Tsuda, Vice President of Community Development, The Queen’s Health Systems

About Teach For America–Hawai‘i
Teach For America–Hawai‘i works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 2006 on O‘ahu and 2009 on Hawai‘i Island, Teach For America–Hawai‘i recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding college graduates and professionals to make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. Our broader mission is to enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation’s most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence. As Teach For America–Hawai‘i marks its 10th anniversary, the organization has had a profound impact in the islands by recruiting and developing more than 650 teachers over the last decade, many of whom are working across career sectors—including education, law, business, medicine, and government—to improve the opportunities of young people and fight for educational equity.

For more information, go online.