The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education named finalists for the 2023 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year. The finalists include one charter school and 15 complex area teachers.
This October, one teacher will be announced as the 2023 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and will go on to represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program. The honor is presented annually to a teacher selected from more than 13,000 HIDOE educators.
The finalists include the following teachers:
| Teacher | Complex Area | School | Subject or Grade |
| Makena Ale | Castle-Kahuku | Kahuku Elementary | Kindergarten |
| Cornelio (CJ) Ancheta | Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanaʻi- Molokaʻi |
Lahainaluna High | Math |
| Chayanee Brooks | Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa | Kaʻū High & Pahala Elementary | English |
| Malia Draper | Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui | Waiheʻe Elementary | Curriculum Coordinator |
| Shelby Ann Erdmann | Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea | Waimea High | English and Special Education |
| Jared Haiola | Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua | Haleʻiwa Elementary | Special Education and STEM |
| Michael Ida | Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani | Kalani High | Math and Computer Science |
| Nuikala Koerte | Nānākuli-Waiʻanae | Waiʻanae Elementary | Kindergarten |
| Cerina Livaudais | Public Charter Schools | Dreamhouse Ewa Beach | Science and Computer Science |
| Leeann Manuel | Campbell-Kapolei | ʻEwa Makai Middle | Curriculum Coordinator |
| Keevan Matsumoto | Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt | Kaimukī High | Special Education Student Services Coordinator |
| Joel Matsunaga | Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala- Konawaena |
Honoka‘a-Kealakehe- Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area |
Health and Physical Education Resource Teacher |
| Daphne Okunaga | Pearl City-Waipahu | Pearl City High | Math and Business |
| Kristy Taise | Hilo-Waiākea | Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area | Resource Teacher |
| Deanne Takeno | Kailua-Kalāheo | Maunawili Elementary | Academic Coach |
| Cherie Teraoka | ‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford | Aliamanu Middle | Curriculum Coordinator |
Photo credit: Department of Education
