Principal Lauded For Leading King Out Of Restructuring

King Intermediate School principal Sheena Alaiasa

At least two Kaneohe public school principals so far have won fall trips to the East Coast for their role in bringing out exceptional performance on campus.

King Intermediate School principal Sheena Alaiasa (since 2008) is one of three in Hawaii named top leaders by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and MetLife. She will attend an NASSP conference Sept. 18-21 in Washington, D.C., for all awardees.

The 2013 program also recognized Kaiser High School’s John Sosa and Kaimuki Middle School vice principal Celia Main-Anakalea. (In a separate recognition program, as reported in the May 22 Windward Islander, Kahaluu Elementary principal Naomi Matsuzaki will fly to D.C. in October for the National Association of Elementary School Principals conference as the state’s Distinguished Principal of the Year.)

Alaiasa, her staff and 600 students recently marked King’s exit from restructuring sanctions by committing to better data analysis and strategies to improve instruction. That commitment came with a $100,000 Strive HI Award in March.

Alaiasa, who formerly led Heeia Elementary School, gives all the credit for the award to the school itself.

The September institute will serve as a forum for principals to share best practices and meet with national education leaders and legislators.