STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3559

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 907, 908

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 907 and 908, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board

 

G.M. No. 907

WRAY JOSE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015; and

 

G.M. No. 908

FELICIA VILLALOBOS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Wray Jose and Felicia Villalobos to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

 

WRAY JOSE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Wray Jose from the Governor, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Jose received his Bachelor of Arts degree and Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Hawaii.

 

     Mr. Jose is currently a Social Studies teacher at Moanalua High School, serving as the Social Studies Department Chairperson from 2002 to 2004.  In 2004 Mr. Jose was named the State of Hawaii History Teacher of the Year.

 

     Mr. Jose has also served as a mentor to new and beginning teachers, as well as a mentor to student teachers.  He continues to mentor new teachers as a member of the Moanalua High School Professional Development Team.  Mr. Jose is a member of many professional and community service organizations, and is deeply involved in professional development as a presenter and participant.

 

     Mr. Jose is a current member of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and serves as the Chairperson of the Teacher Standards Committee, which focuses on the development and adoption of licensing and performance standards for teachers, school counselors, and school librarians, as well as the adoption of licensure tests and validation of content expertise.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Jose has many years of teaching and leadership experience.  As such, Mr. Jose will continue to be an asset to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

 

FELICIA VILLALOBOS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Felicia Villalobos from the Governor, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Villalobos received a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from California State University at Fresno.  She went on to receive a Master's degree in Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Ms. Villalobos has served as an elementary school teacher for the past nine years and is currently a first grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary on the Island of Kauai.

 

     Ms. Villalobos also serves as a mentor to student teachers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a Hawaii delegate to the National Education Association.

 

     Ms. Villalobos testified that her short-term goal as a member of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is to help facilitate a clearer line of communication between the Board and teachers on Kauai, where Ms. Villalobos resides.  Ms. Villalobos' long-term goal is to continuously monitor, reevaluate, and improve the licensing process so that Hawaii can recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Villalobos' commitment and passion for education will make her an outstanding addition to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair