Schoolteacher Gouveia wins Milken award

A teacher at Kalakaua Middle School in Kalihi has received this year’s Teacher of Promise Award from the National Milken Educators of Hawaii.

Miki Gouveia, 28, teaches in an inclusive classroom for students learning English as a second language.

She said she was surprised and honored to receive the award.

"For me, doing what I do, I just do it because I love it," she said. "To be recognized for what I do, it was an overwhelming feeling."

The award recognizes teachers with fewer than three years of experience who demonstrate effective instructional practices and student learning in the classroom. The winner receives $1,000.

Math teacher honored as Maui’s tops

Mitzi Hasegawa, a middle school mathematics teacher at Hana High and Elementary School, was recognized at the state Capitol last week as 2012 Maui School District Teacher of the Year.

Hasegawa has led the school’s Math Matters team and has encouraged students "to continue their learning during the afterschool hours," said Senate President Shan Tsutsui (D, Wailuku-Kahului).

Hasegawa is originally from Monroe, Mich., and moved to Hana to teach after graduating from Eastern Michigan University in 1990, a Senate news release said. She is married to Neil Hasegawa, a member of the Hasegawa General Store family.

Maui Sens. Tsutsui, J. Kalani English and Roz Baker honored Hasegawa during Education Week at the Capitol.

Driveway repair to disrupt drops at waste station

Kauai residents will not be able to drop off green waste at the Hanalei refuse transfer station April 5-13 while repairs to its driveway are made, the county announced.

In addition, the mixed waste operation will be limited to bagged trash from April 6-13. Loose mixed waste will not be accepted.

All of the other waste diversion programs will continue at the Hanalei transfer station.

Normal operations are expected to resume on April 14.

The public is advised that while the repair work is being done, large trucks hauling construction material in and out of the lower driveway will affect access at the facility.

For more information, call the county solid waste operations superintendent at 652-0282.