2022-2024

Hawaii State Teacher Fellows 

Christina Chan

Pearl City-Waipahu
Christina Chan, who has been teaching for over two decades, currently teaches 8th-grade science at Highlands Intermediate School in Pearl City. She has taught at the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium in the informal education setting. Serving as faculty representative for the teachers union helps her represent teachers. Highlands Intermediate will transition into a pre-academy school this year, and she will lead the CAHSL Academy. She is an advisor for the Highlands National Junior Honor Society, a nature-based Aloha' Āina Club and a mentor teacher to young and new professional teachers. The Hawaii Science Teachers Association has served as the president and is the current Membership Chair. Graduating from the University of Hawaii of Mānoa, Christina holds a BS in Biology and a Master's of Education in Secondary Science. One of her passions is getting students outside and connected to the ʻāina in hopes of inspiring our future stewards of the land.

Lucas Dembart

Public Charter School
Lucas Dembart is a 6th through 8th grade Social Studies teacher at the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS) in Honolulu. He also taught 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies at Wheeler Middle School in Wahiawa. During the summers, Lucas has worked as a computer science instructor for Kode with Klossy, an organization providing CS education to young women and nonbinary scholars ages 13-18. In addition to his work as a teacher, he has participated in leadership development and education design as a member of the Learning Innovation Lab Fall 2020 cohort. Lucas currently serves as one of his school's HSTA School Level Leaders, and he loves finding ways to build community and boost the morale of the teachers and students around him. He received a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, graduating as a University Honors Scholar and recipient of the Founder's Day Award. He has completed a Master's in Education Leadership from the Chaminade University of Honolulu. 

Kim Dempsey

Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena
Kim Dempsey is a technology teacher at Kealakehe Intermediate on Hawai'i Island, where she serves on the leadership team. She also teaches High School Equivalency at the Kona campus of Waipahu Community School for Adults. Originally from Ohio, Kim has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University, master's coursework in Human Resources Counseling, and CTE teacher certification from Windward Community College. Kim entered education as a substitute teacher for 15+ years in Ohio and Hawaii. Before education, Kim worked in Human Resources for a national hospitality company and as a consultant in event planning & fundraising. She decided to teach full-time when she felt she had found a "home" at KIS in a teaching line that allowed her to utilize her professional experience. Kim is passionate about providing all learners with a supportive space and skills to help them succeed in school and beyond. 

Akemi Faria

Hilo-Waiakea
Akemi Faria currently works as the Academic Coach at Kāʻumana Elementary School on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Her experience in education includes 17 years of experience in the classroom teaching grades K, 2, 3, 4, and 5. She was also a Reading Mastery Coach at Laupahoehoe High & Elementary School. For the past six years, she has served as a Smarter Balanced assessment author and reviewer for items on the Smarter Balanced Summative assessment. She has worked as a State Network Educator for five years to create and co-author seven instructional resources for the Smarter Balanced "Tools For Teachers." She recently participated in creating resources for the Performance Assessment Development Institute. Akemi is passionate about the pursuit of integrating HĀ themes within her lessons and test items to increase awareness. She hopes to continue to author resources and develop helpful Professional Development resources for teachers in Hawaiʻi.

Pinky Grace Francisco

Kaʻu-Keaau-Pahoa
Pinky Grace Francisco is a Middle School ELA, English Learner, and EL Coordinator at Kau High and Pahala Elementary School. She is licensed to teach English 6-12 and TESOL K-12. Pinky is a member of the HSTA CARES (Culture, Advocacy, Respect, Equity, and Support) pilot cadre and an NEA/HSTA Early Leadership Institute Fellow. She is a PDE3 course writer and instructor. She has been featured in the Big Island Times' Educators Make the World Go Round Series, where she mentioned some impactful culturally responsive practices. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education, majoring in English, from Mariano Marcos State University, Philippines.

Kelli Kaanaana

Campbell-Kapolei
Kelli Kaanaana is a sixth-grade teacher at Holomua Elementary in Ewa Beach/Campbell-Kapolei complex. During her 11 years of teaching in the DOE, she has taught in fourth grade, mentored beginning teachers, volunteered as an intramural coach, and served as the school grievance representative/head faculty representative for Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA). Kelli enjoys professional development and has experience with grant-writing to build a curriculum on placed-based learning and SBA Performance task development for Performance Assessment Development Initiative (PADI), to name a few. She is a proud graduate of the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu with a degree in Elementary Education.

Jessica Kato

Campbell-Kapolei
Jessica Kato, MEd, is a National Board Certified literacy educator who has been teaching for 21 years. Jessica is an Adjunct Professor for Chaminade University,  the Leeward NBCT Representative for HSTA, and is currently the Campbell Kapolei Literacy Resource Teacher, where she wrote and now co-coordinates the Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant. She teaches AP Language & Composition, AP Literature & Composition, and Expository Writing for the Hawaii Online Courses program. She was a founding coordinator of Farrington High School's Teacher Leadership Cadre, designing teacher-led professional learning experiences. Named the Oceanic Outstanding Educator (2014), Jessica presented nationally at the Model Schools Conference (2017 & 2018) and locally at the Hawaii Leadership Symposium (2018). Jessica believes in growing joy and confidence through literacy in all learners and the power of public education.

Natalie Lalagos

Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena
Natalie Lalagos is a National Board Certified Spanish Teacher and works in partnership with UH Hilo to teach an Introduction to Translation class at Kealakehe High School in Kailua Kona. While originally from the Chicago suburbs, she began teaching English and Spanish in Eastern Kentucky before moving to Hawai'i island to work as an Instructional and Leadership Coach. Natalie returned to the classroom in 2018 and became a Fulbright Teachers For Global Classrooms Fellow in 2020, and was awarded HALT's (Hawai'i Association of Language Teachers) Award for Teaching Excellence in 2022. She developed and leads a welcoming program for new hires at her school and is HALT's webmaster for the upcoming year. Natalie is passionate about globalizing her classroom and practice and being involved in her community. She spends time on the water, volunteering, and is an improviser with the Aloha Theatre's HI Line Improv Team.

Janice Lee

Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua
Janice Lee is currently a Library Media Specialist at Mililani Uka Elementary School. She previously served in the Pearl City Highlands Elementary School library and taught science and math at Moanalua High School and Waialua High & Intermediate School. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Science and loves thinking outside the box, dreaming up crazy ideas, and watching students create and collaborate. She's also interested in media literacy, maker spaces, and lifelong learning. Janice earned her BEd and MLISc from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and an MS in Science Education from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Cliffordneal Lim

Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani
Cliffordneal Lim is currently a Tech Coordinator at King David Kalākaua Middle School. Cliff (aka the "Batman" by his students and colleagues) started his career as an ELL Part-Time Teacher at the Elementary School level. He successfully worked in long-term substitute teaching, eventually getting his Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Hawaiʻi Pacific University. But, he did not stop there. He then furthered his education career in Middle School Science, which surprisingly landed him in his newly acquired Tech position. His dream is to be an author of Fiction novels, a dream that stems from his Master's Degree in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. When Cliff is not spending time with his brilliant five-year-old son, you can find him reading comics or watching retro movies.

Tanya Mau

Office of Talent Management
Tanya Mau is a State Office Teacher at the Hawaii Teacher Induction Center. Starting in elementary and special education classrooms in Seattle Public Schools, she helped launch an English Immersion program in Thailand, which led to English Learner (EL) coordinator/teacher roles. She is an OCDE Project GLAD® trainer and a New Teacher Center presenter. She serves on the HSTA EL Contract Committee,  problem-solving operational issues with educators of multilingual learners. Tanya is also a certified yoga teacher and enjoys sharing self-care and wellness techniques with all ages. She graduated from Kamehameha Schools, earning her BA in Sociology and American Ethnic Studies and a Master in Teaching - Elementary and Special Education degrees from the University of Washington. She is a passionate advocate for equity and social justice, valuing what all students bring to the classroom.

Corey Obungen

Castle-Kahuku
Corey is a health and freshman seminar teacher at Castle High School. He has taught leadership, sports medicine, exercise science, and CTE health careers. He currently serves as the advisor for the graduating class of 2023 and contributes as an advisory board member for the Freshman Academy. Before moving back to Oahu, he also taught in the Seattle area, served as the Associated Student Body Advisor, and coached Track & Field. Corey earned a BS in Exercise Science from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and is CTE certified through Bates Technical College. He is passionate about building relationships and finding creative ways to integrate social -emotional learning into the classroom.

Christine Russo

Campbell-Kapolei
Christina (Christine) Russo teaches at James Campbell High School in the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area. She currently serves on the school improvement team as the data coordinator and FOL lead. She previously taught Physical Science, Earth Science, and Biology in the Freshman Success Academy. She worked as the Hawaii State Teacher Association teacher lobbyist and served on the Hawaii State Teacher Association’s Board of Directors. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Post-Baccalaureate in Secondary Science Education. She is passionate about increasing access to media literacy education and mental health resources for Hawaiʻi students. As a Hawaiʻi State Teacher Fellow Christine hopes to shatter the commonly held perception in Hawaiʻi that a private school education is superior to a public school education.

Devika Sewpaul

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui
Devika Sewpaul earned her teaching degree from Queens College in New York City.  She also has a master's degree in Instructional Design from Western Governor's University. Devika partnered with several museums in New York City to offer her students additional exposure to historical content.  She is currently a 7th grade social studies teacher at Maui Waena Intermediate School.  When Devika is not teaching she likes to research on strategies that can help her students develop academically in the classroom. Her interests and hobbies include reading, painting, watching documentaries, and traveling across the world.  Devika's latest challenge is learning the Hawaiian language and local pidgin dialect.  Devika's motivation as a educator is to see her students succeed in and outside the classroom.

Heidi Unten

Kailua-Kalaheo
Heidi Unten is a science and health pathway teacher at Kailua High School in the Kailua-Kalaheo Complex. She teaches freshmen physical science with project based learning, human physiology for juniors and seniors, and is a health career pathway in the Career Technical Education department. She is on the technology committee to provide technological tools and equipment to teachers, staff, and students. She implements philosophy for children (p4c) in her classes to drive deep meaningful discussions and coordinates one of the school's blood drives and other service projects with her health pathway classes. Heidi earned her BA in biology and a M.Ed.T. in secondary science at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. When not teaching, find Heidi at the gym watching her kids play sports or spending quality time with the family.

2022-2024 Hawaii State Teacher Fellows