Three final candidates for the Department of Education state superintendent position have been selected: Darrel Galera, Keith Hayashi and Caprice Young.
Final interviews and a potential selection will take place at a special meeting of the Board of Education on May 19.
The nominees were selected by an investigative committee and were reviewed by an advisory group, focus group, key legislative committee chairpersons and several BOE members.
Out of 35 total applicants, the three finalists and their qualifications will be presented during Thursday’s BOE general business meeting. No official deliberation or selection of a superintendent will take place during that meeting.
Thursday’s meeting can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/52wma2bw.
Keith Hayashi has been serving as interim state superintendent since August 2021 after replacing Christina Kishimoto, who opted not to seek a contract renewal. He has previously served as principal of Waipahu High School and has over 30 years experience in public education.
The advisory group providing feedback on the selection process noted Hayashi’s “tenure as interim superintendent would provide an easy transition to the permanent superintendency.”
Former Deputy District Superintendent of Leeward Oahu Darrel Galera also will be under consideration. Galera has 40 years experience and previously served on the BOE. The advisory group noted he has additional experience leading initiatives alongside Gov. David Ige.
Caprice Young is a candidate from California who has been serving as president of the Education Growth Group, a consultant for education and technology organizations. Young has previous experience as superintendent for several groups of schools as well as a diverse background in public finance, technology, curriculum and community organizing. She is the only candidate with a doctorate in education.
An investigative committee was formed in June 2021 and focused on the education system’s greatest needs, areas of growth and desired outcomes.
The new superintendent will be faced with several challenges including teacher shortages, falling test scores, student attendance and pandemic recovery.
The DOE is the only statewide public school system in the U.S., with almost 300 schools, 180,000 students and 13,000 teachers.
A thorough evaluation of the three candidates based on advisory group’s feedback can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/624ma4ru.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com
