HONOLULU — Christina Kishimoto has been selected by the state Board of Education to serve as Hawaii’s next superintendent of schools, the Hawaii Department of Education said.
HONOLULU — Christina Kishimoto has been selected by the state Board of Education to serve as Hawaii’s next superintendent of schools, the Hawaii Department of Education said.
The selection was announced Friday following a search process that spanned several months and attracted 92 applications. The board interviewed the final candidates on May 11 before rendering its decision.
“Because both finalists were so highly qualified, it was a difficult decision for the board,” said BOE Chairman Lance Mizumoto in a prepared statement. “In the end, however, we felt that Dr. Kishimoto has the right combination of experience, knowledge, and focus to implement the strategic vision for educational change set forth in the Governor’s Blueprint for Education and the BOE and HIDOE’s newly revised joint strategic plan.”
Kishimoto, 48, signed a three-year contract and will start Aug. 1. She will serve as the chief executive officer of the public school system. The BOE formulates statewide educational policy and appoints the superintendent.
“It is with great excitement and honor that I accept this critical education leadership position for the State of Hawaii and the Hawaii Department of Education,” said Kishimoto. “In partnership with Chairperson Mizumoto, the board, and Gov. David Ige, I look forward to implementing a vision of excellence for all students.”
Kishimoto will begin her transition out of her current role as superintendent of the Gilbert Public Schools district in Arizona, which she has held since July 2014. She is recognized nationally as a leader in education for her reform work in school turnaround and portfolio school development.
Kishimoto earned a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Connecticut and a doctorate from Columbia University. In June 2014, she completed two years of board service on the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, an organization focused on student centered practices and policies.
Outgoing Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi ends her term on June 30. The BOE plans to name an interim superintendent to serve during the transition month of July.