STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2238

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 686, 687, 707, 721

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 686, 687, 707, and 721, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Early Learning Board

 

G.M. No. 686

KERRIE UROSEVICH,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 687

LEILANI AU,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 707

BENJAMIN NAKI III,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022; and

 

G.M. No. 721

JUSTINA ACEVEDO-CROSS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Kerrie Urosevich, Leilani Au, Benjamin Naki III, and Justina Acevedo-Cross for service on the Early Learning Board.

 

KERRIE UROSEVICH

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kerrie Urosevich from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Parents and Children Together, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Urosevich is presently the Lead for Network Design and Collaboration for the Early Childhood Action Strategy Collaborative Leaders Network, Co-Founder for Ceeds of Peace, and an Affiliate Faculty at the Spark Matsunaga Institute for Peace.  Previously, Dr. Urosevich served as the Governor's Early Childhood Coordinator and Action Strategy Coordinator for the Executive Office on Early Learning and has a professional background in systems building through her mediation and facilitation consultancy.  She is active in the community, serving on various Hawaii-based and international boards, including Hawaii's Early Intervention Coordinating Council.  According to her personal statement, Dr. Urosevich envisions Hawaii as a leader in aligning its early childhood development system to ensure access to high quality programs and services for all children.  Your Committee therefore finds that Dr. Urosevich's professional background in early childhood development, as well as dedication to public service, will be great assets to the Early Learning Board.

 

LEILANI AU

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Leilani Au from the Executive Office on Early Learning and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Au is presently the Director for the University of Hawaii at Manoa Children's Center, which serves children ages two to five years.  Ms. Au previously served as an Education Coordinator at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Children's Center and Facilitator at the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children.  Additionally, Ms. Au's professional background as an Early Childhood Department Lecturer and Professional and Career Education for Early Childhood Trainer at Honolulu Community College allows her to understand the unique and varied needs of center-based child care providers.  Ms. Au indicated in her personal statement that she feels Hawaii needs to catch up to other states in creating and enforcing quality standards for public and private early childhood programs.  Your Committee therefore finds that Ms. Au's leadership abilities, as well as her background in the early childhood field, will be great assets to the Early Learning Board.

 

BENJAMIN NAKI III

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Benjamin Naki III from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Parents and Children Together, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Naki is presently the Vice President of Early Education Programs at Parents and Children Together.  Additionally, his previous work experience includes serving as Program Director, Assistant Director, and various other roles at Parents and Children Together.  Mr. Naki is also an active member of the community, serving as the President of the Head Start Association of Hawaii and Board Member for the Region 9 Head Start Association.  According to his personal statement, Mr. Naki indicated that during his first term on the Early Learning Board, he was able to work with the Executive Office on Early Learning and Early Learning Board to better understand how Head Start and Early Head Start fit into the statewide early learning state plan.  Your Committee therefore finds that Mr. Naki's passion for early learning, as well as his professional experience, will continue to be great assets to the Early Learning Board.

 

JUSTINA ACEVEDO-CROSS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Justina Acevedo-Cross from the Executive Office on Early Learning and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Acevedo-Cross is presently the Program Director for the Hawaii Community Foundation, leading the Promising Minds initiative to strengthen healthy development of all children from birth to age five.  In the past, she has served as Program Officer for The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Communications Manager, Interim Policy Manager, and Consultant at the Women's Initiative for Self Employment.  According to the testimony, Ms. Acevedo-Cross's current work focuses on early learning, education, community development, economic security, and workforce development issues.  Ms. Acevedo-Cross indicated in her personal statement that she hopes to catalyze policy development around the whole child so that early learning activities include foundational components that affect a child's ability to learn about health and feeling safe.  Your Committee therefore finds that Ms. Acevedo-Cross's understanding of child development, as well as her willingness to serve, will be great assets to the Early Learning 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair