Cecilia "CC" Chung - President (Oahu)

Cecilia “CC” Chung is an educator who loves to work with others to build community. She is passionate about edtech integration, project based learning, and social media, believing educators have so much to share with one another. She has presented and facilitated workshops at a variety of conferences. SCC is currently a teacher at Honouliuli Middle School and has formerly served as a technology integration coach, specializing in supporting teachers and developing flexible spaces. She enjoys serving on the HSTE board as the current board president.

Shane Asselstine - President-Elect (Oahu)

Shane joined the Hawaii Department of Education in 2004 as a 4th grade teacher. He has spent most of his years as the Technology Integration Specialist at Momilani Elementary School. Outside of school, he serves in many roles across various organizations such as the HSTE President, CSTA Hawaii Chapter Past-President, Code.org K-8 Facilitator for Hawaii. He has been integrating technology from Google to Micro:bits for almost two decade with lessons ranging from economics to humanities. He is also a strong advocate for implementing computer science in the classroom through unplugged, digital and physical computing. Since August 2015, he has trained over 1400 K-8 educators in Hawaii., to bring CS into the classroom.

Nicole Heinlein - (Maui)

Leanna Agcaoili (Oahu)

Leanna is an elementary educator at Mayor Joseph J. Fern Elementary School, and will be transitioning this school year as Fern's next technology coordinator. Her passion is creating thematic units that integrate project-based learning and technology. Leanna is a National Board Certified Teacher, and a 2017 Locations Foundation Top Teacher Award finalist. She is also a Hawaii State Teacher Fellow alumna. Leanna received a BS in Elementary Education from Linfield College, and a MEd in Instructional Leadership from Chaminade University.

Leah Aiwohi (Kauai)

Leah currently teaches at Kauai High School with classes in Media, Computer Science and STEM. She has taught at the Elementary, Middle and High school levels engaging students to use computers and technology as basic classroom tools since her teaching career began 32 years ago. Leah strives to keep being innovative and impactful in her teaching, and works to ensure that her students’ learning experiences are relevant as they grow to be critical thinkers and solution creators through project-based, service-oriented learning.

Dagan Bernstein - (Hawai'i)

Dagan currently works as the K-8 Capstone Coordinator at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy in Waimea on Hawai’i Island with additional experience in music, digital media, and mathematics instruction. A strong believer in developing student agency and supporting skills for a “future curriculum”, he is an advocate for using design, futures, and music thinking to support productive collaboration among educators. Dagan is also a musician who loves writing, recording, and performing at farmer’s markets and coffee shops throughout Hawai’i Island.

Dagan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from University of Oregon and a Master’s Degree in Education Entrepreneurship from Oulu University in Finland. He has completed the Google Education Level 2 certification as well as the Adobe Creative Educator Level 2 certification. Dagan also serves on the leadership team for the National Capstone Consortium, an open collaborative of educators supporting peer-to-peer collaboration at K-12 schools.

Brenda Chase (Oahu)

I am a transplant to Hawaii from California in 2015, I know teach 7th math at Kapolei Middle. Technology integration has always been a focus of mine. Based on that focus, in 2011 I began to earn my Masters Degree in EdTech as the catalyst to new technology expertise to enhance classroom teaching. Since that date, I have integrated technology in the classroom as a way to create real world project based activities that demonstrate students mastery of curriculum in a creative collaborative way. The students embrace this and gain collaborative skills in conjunction with various technology platforms (i.e. Scratch and CoSpaces). This was especially useful in distance learning during the 2020-2021 School year. I see value it brings to students preparation as 21st century learners and continue to build on platforms as new one arise. I strive to share this with other staff members to bring these platforms into their classrooms.

In 6th grade, Esther M. Goto gave Celeste and her classmates a golden ticket opportunity to star in a class film. It had pirates “arrgh”, treasure, Can Can dancers, and Snoopy in every scene! Each child got a starry picture in the Director’s chair! Lovingly scripted and directed by Miss Goto, it was an experience that transcended education. Everybody mattered, worked hard, and had an incredibly FUN time! Celeste never forgot being part of Miss Goto’s class that shifted life trajectories towards better paths. Celeste was so happy to meet Miss Goto decades later and introduce her two children to the teacher who shaped their family’s lives for good. In honor of Esther M. Goto and all the kindhearted teachers who help people thrive, Celeste hopes to helpfully strive! https://bit.ly/brainbowconnection

Wrayna Fairchild (Oahu)

Wrayna Fairchild is the K-6 STEM Coordinator at Voyager Public Charter School. Wrayna feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach in a variety of settings over the past seventeen years, including Hawai’i public, charter and private schools, as well as internationally, in both Germany and Spain. Wrayna strives to provide opportunities for her students to learn through technology, design thinking and the natural environment. Her innovative methods of teaching have earned her recognition including the Voya Unsung Heroes award, Mental Floss Innovators in Teaching Platypus award and The Henry Ford Teacher Innovator award. Wrayna thrives on new learning opportunities and routinely participates in cohorts and fellowships. Her current, and recent, cohorts include Hawai’i State Teacher fellowship, Next Generation Science Teaching Program fellowship, NEA Foundation Global Learning fellowship, ASCD Emerging Leader and NASA Mission Earth Educator cohort. Wrayna received her B.A. in Liberal Studies from CSU Channel Islands and Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

Michael Fricano II (Oahu)

Michael is a K-6 Design and Technology Teacher at ‘Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawai’i. He is also a Google Certified Trainer, a Code.org Computer Science Discoveries Facilitator, and has been presenting on EdTech topics for more than 11 years. His passions center around Computer Science, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Maker Education, and purposeful, cross-curricular technology integration.

Paul Holwegner (Kauai)

Paul is a technology integration coach and formerly a middle science teacher at Chiefess Kamakahaelei Middle School. His credits include:

• Kauai’s Teacher of Year in 2013,
• State of Hawaii Innovation Grant recipient - earned in 2019-20,
• Graduate of 2019-20 Hawaii's Teacher Leader Academy (TLA),
• Current Google Certified Level 1 and 2 Educator, as well as a certified Google Trainer
• Co-creator/promotor of the Kauai Complex District Stem Lending Library

He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master’s of Education in Educational Technology from the University of Delaware. Paul’s real passion is helping teachers and students connect with the real world through the integration of technology.

Kecia McDonald (Hawai'i)

Kecia McDonald currently serves as a Complex Area Resource Teacher for English Learners in Kailua Kona, West Hawai'i. She is certified K-12 in Health and has been a Teen Health teacher, a Curriculum Coordinator, Test Coordinator, Title I Coordinator and substitute teacher. She was a 2020-2022 Hawai'i State Teacher Fellow and a 2022 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow. Kecia is the public school proud mother of two young men and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. She loves to travel and has moved 26 times. You can find her on Twitter @mcdonald_kecia or follow her travels on IG @what_hi_see

Kristi Oda (Oahu)

Within the Leadership Institute, Kristi enjoys designing learning opportunities to hone skills such as problem-solving, communication, and creativity. She supports the Hawaii State Teacher Fellows and teachers statewide who are launching solutions to advance learning. She enjoys strengthening collaborative networks statewide and co-founded the #808educate Twitter mini-chats where Hawaii educators from independent, public and public charter schools connect and ask curious questions on an interactive global platform. Serving as a fourth-grade teacher and as part of National Board Certified Teacher leadership, Kristi is always up for new challenges and encourages teachers in monthly Write sessions to shape education policy and share insights as student-centered teachers.