HSTA National Board Support Network Team
Through funding from NEA and HSTA we have had the opportunity to expand our NB support team. Our team is made up of an HSTA Staff person, a state lead, three regional leads, and a cadre of facilitators.
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We work in partnership with Kamehameha Schools to make sure we have the right supports for our Hawaii teachers who want to pursue National Board Certification.
OUR TEAM
Diane Gibson
Instruction and Professional Development Specialist
Diane came to HSTA with 28 years of experience as a classroom teacher and an aspiring educator instructor at the post secondary level. She is dedicated to working with teachers and community partners to bring high quality Professional Development to teachers in Hawaii.
Lisa Espiritu
State Lead for HSTA National Board Support Network
Lisa is a 5th grade teacher at Nimitz Elementary. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at University of Hawaii and her Masters of Education at Chaminade University. She is National Board certified as a Middle Childhood Generalist. The process of certification was very powerful for her and she loves sharing the process with others through candidate support cohorts, informational sessions, and Jump Start. Her goal is to help other teachers to see the value of National Board certification and help them reach their goal of certification
Diane Makuau
Regional Lead for HSTA National Board Support Network
Diane attained National Board Certification in Library Media for Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood in 2011 and was renewed in 2021. She has been the school librarian at Molokai High School since 2002. She was awarded School Librarian of the Year in 2021 by the School Library Journal and Scholastic Books. Diane is the secretary for HSTA’s Molokai Chapter, State Negotiations Chair and recipient of the 2019 HSTA S.T.A.C.Y. Award for Teaching Excellence. For Diane, the process of becoming an NBCT was one of her defining moments in her teaching career. To encourage other teachers to pursue National Board certification, she facilitates informational sessions and candidate support for current Hawai’i candidates, especially on Molokai. She believes every teacher should have the opportunity, resources, and support to grow as a professional to give the best they can to their students.
Jessica Kato
Regional Lead for HSTA National Board Support Network
Jessica Kato earned her National Board Certification in 2010 in English Language Arts for Adolescents and Young Adults. She is currently a Resource Teacher in the Campbell Kapolei Complex Area, who leads and supports literacy initiatives, as well as an English teacher for the Hawaii Virtual Learning Network. She is also an Adjunct Professor for pre-service teachers at Chaminade University's College of Education and a Professional Development Instructor for HSTA.