Head of the class: Wilcox Elementary STEM educator among 16 teachers of the year honored by state Education Department

Hawaiʻi State Department of Education recently named 16 teachers of the year — one from each of the state’s 15 complex areas and one from a charter school — as part of the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year program.

Among those receiving the title is science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — educator Natsumi Yamasato, who teaches at Wilcox Elementary School in the Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex Area.

Yamasato told Midweek Kauaʻi in October 2018 that she thinks effective STEM teaching should include learning experiences relevant and meaningful to the lives of students.

She also thinks learning sustainability concepts and practices is an important part of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for the next generation.

Yamasato was a former architect/building engineer in Japan.

She is known for making STEM commonplace at Wilcox. Yamasato also organizes and hosts the annual Wilcox STEM Night, which provides students with hands-on learning experiences in each of the STEM fields.

Last year, the event attracted more than 1,000 community members and featured 20 activity stations.

“This year’s teachers of the year exemplify the profound impact our dedicated educators have in preparing our students to become globally competitive and locally committed,” State Superintendent of Schools Keith Hayashi said in a release announcing the local 2026 teachers of the year. “Their commitment to fostering not just academic excellence, but also creativity, resilience, curiosity and critical thinking, is truly inspiring.”

Hayashi added that the department is honored to celebrate the educators who are actively building a foundation of success for their students, schools and Hawaiʻi.

One of the 15 teachers of the year from throughout the state will be named in September as the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year and represent the islands as part of the National Teacher of the Year program.

The honor is presented annually to a teacher selected from the more than 13,000 educators Hawai’i Department of Education statewide.