Pictured at the award announcement ceremony are (from left): front — Mahina Anguay, Waimea High; Michelle Payne-Arakaki, Pahoa Elementary; Christine Gardner, Kahala Elementary; Jan Iwase, Hale Kula Elementary; and Alma Souki, Heeia Elementary; back row — Tyler Tokioka, Island Insurance Foundation president; Heidi Tsuneyoshi, Office of Councilmember Ernie Martin; Rep. Takashi Ohno; Chris Bachaus, Kula Elementary; Jamie Dela Cruz, Kaelepulu Elementary; Steve Franz, King Kamehameha III Elementary; Rep. Angus McKelvey; Lenn Uyeda, Maemae Elementary; Michael Nakasato, Pearl City Highlands Elementary; Bruce Naguwa, Kapolei Middle School; Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi; Councilmember Trevor Ozawa; Sen. Susan Chun Oakland; and Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi.

HONOLULU – Principals Chris Bachaus of Kula Elementary School in Kula and Steve Franz of King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina were recently named finalists in the Island Insurance Foundation 2016 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.

One Hawaii public school principal will receive $25,000: a $10,000 personal cash award and $15,000 toward a school project of his or her choice.

The recipient of this year’s award will be announced at the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation Dinner on April 21, 2016 in Honolulu.

The award, which is named after Island Insurance founder Masayuki Tokioka, is underwritten by the Island Insurance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Island Insurance Companies.

Twelve public school principals from across Hawaii are finalists for the award that recognizes outstanding school principals across the state and their efforts to provide high-quality learning opportunities for their students.

Franz has been an educator at King Kamehameha III Elementary School for 20 years, seven years as principal of the school.

Franz believes it is important to share in the ownership of a student’s success with his or her teachers. Upon becoming principal, Franz hired a curriculum coordinator to focus on curriculum improvements and instructional practices, and expanded the school’s teaching staff to include art, music, physical education and drama teachers.

He then developed an Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) comprised of a teacher representative from each grade level and department. These practices have greatly impacted students’ success and given Franz and his teachers the time to collaborate, share in the responsibility of creating academic plans and discuss new initiatives.

Bachaus has been principal of Kula Elementary for three years. As principal, Bachaus feels it is important to be mindful of respect and responsibility, to be caring and committed to accomplishing the school’s mission of building relationships in the classroom, in the school and in the community.

When Bachaus became principal, the school adopted its mission of “The Kula WayWorking Together to Build a Culture of Mutual Respect and Shared Responsibility” in student learning.

By putting the needs of the children first and refocusing the school to that of an environment conducive to learning and not of social status, student behavior and attendance have noticeably changed. The school has seen a dramatic reduction in student absenteeism from 36 to 13 percent.

The other ten principals are Mahina Anguay of Waimea High School (Waimea, Kauai); Jamie Dela Cruz of Kaelepulu Elementary School (Kailua, Oahu); Christine (Kinau) Gardner of Kahala Elementary School (Honolulu, Oahu); Alison Higa of Fort Shafter Elementary School (Honolulu, Oahu); Jan Iwase of Hale Kula Elementary School (Wahiawa, Oahu); Bruce Naguwa of Kapolei Middle School (Kapolei, Oahu); Michael Nakasato of Pearl City Highlands Elementary School (Pearl City, Oahu); Michelle Payne-Arakaki of Pahoa Elementary School (Pahoa, Hawaii); Alma Souki of Heeia Elemnetary School (Kaneohe, Oahu); and Lenn Uyeda of Maemae Elementary (Honolulu, Oahu).

The Island Insurance Foundation was established as the charitable arm of Island Insurance, Hawaii’s largest locally owned and managed property and casualty insurance carrier. For more information, visit www.islandinsurance.com.