Jackie Freitas, a natural resources teacher at Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Oʻahu, received the state’s top teaching award from Gov. Josh Green and Superintendent Keith Hayashi during an awards ceremony on Oct. 3.
Freitas, 36, was selected from a field of 16 finalists representing the best of the state’s 13,000-plus public school teachers, and will represent Hawaii in the National Teacher of the Year Program in the spring.