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.
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education today named 15 complex area teachers of the year and one charter school teacher of the year as finalists for the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year recognition. Maui finalists are: Kaunakakai Elementary teacher David “Kawika” Gonzales Jr. and Wahieʻe Elementary reading coach Melanie Teraoka.
The Maui News Melanie Teraoka from Waihe‘e Elementary School and David “Kawika” Gonzales Jr. from Kaunakakai Elementary are finalists for the 2024 Hawa