Hawai’i Teacher for Change Caucus Nominations

Candidates for the Hawai’i State Teachers Association have been announced by the Hawai’i Teachers for Change Caucus. The HSTA election is scheduled to be held between April 13 and April 24 and will take place both through electronic and mailed ballots.

The three Hawai’i Teacher for Change Caucus nominees include Corey Rosenlee, Justin Hughey, and Dr. Amy Perruso.

Rosenlee is running for the HSTA President. Rosenlee was the organizer of “Work to the Rule,” when former Governor Abercrombie imposed two contracts on teachers. Recently, the nationally certified social studies teacher from Campbell High School helped focus public attention on “negative” classroom learning conditions. Rosenlee is leading the fight for air conditioning in classrooms in Hawai’i.

“This is an election about change. Teachers in Hawai’i can no longer be the worst paid in the nation, teaching in 100 degree classrooms, and have their pay and jobs tied to a failed evaluation system,” Rosenlee said.

Running for Vice President of the HSTA is Hughey, a special education teacher at King Kamehameha III Elementary School. He has written and guided numerous resolutions through passage at conventions of the state Democratic Party, National Education Association, and HSTA state conventions. Dangerous classroom conditions, special education staffing issues, and other instances of discriminatory positions by the state Department of Education have been given publicity through Hughey’s efforts.

Dr. Perruso, a nationally recognized social studies teacher who is currently at Mililani High School, is running for the HSTA Secretary/Treasurer position. She was a national finalist for History Teacher of the year and has also won Walmart’s Hawai’i Teacher of the Year. Currently, she serves as a School Community Council representative and is the Central Chapter vice president. Dr. Perruso’s doctoral thesis on the politics of “education reform,” serving as her foundation for the fight to reclaim public education.