Governor picks retired principal to fill school board post
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Gov. David Ige has appointed retired public school principal Darrel Galera to the state Board of Education.
Galera spent nearly two decades with the Department of Education, including 13 years as principal of Moanalua High School, before retiring at the end of 2013.
Ige tapped Galera this spring to lead a 19-member advisory team that the governor has tasked with developing a “blueprint” he hopes will guide a transformation of the state’s public school system. The task group was assembled after passage of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, which transfers federal control over public education to states for matters such as school accountability, teacher evaluations, student testing and support for struggling schools.
“Darrel has been instrumental in engaging the public all across the state to help build the blueprint for our public school system. His service on the board will help bridge the work of the Board of Education and the ESSA Team,” Ige said in a statement.
A graduate of Waipahu High School, Galera hold a master’s degree in educational administration and a bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies from the University of Hawaii.
He began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Moanalua High School. He also served as a principal at several schools, including Castle High, Shafter Elementary, King Intermediate and Aiea Elementary.
Galera marks the governor’s eighth appointment to the nine-member voluntary board that is charged under the state Constitution with formulating statewide educational policy and appointing the superintendent of education as the chief executive officer of public schools.
“It’s truly an honor and privilege to serve our students and schools. I’m inspired by Gov. Ige’s vision and plan for public education in Hawaii,” Galera said in a statement.
Galera replaces Jim Williams, who resigned from the board last month. In his resignation letter, Williams criticized Ige for a lack of confidence and support in the BOE and accused the governor of circumventing the state Constitution and law with his appointment of the ESSA task force.
17 responses to “Governor picks retired principal to fill school board post”
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I hope Galera can move the board in the right direction. The driving question every BOE member should ask is, “How do we need to do to make our public the best in the nation?” This would be a change from the current approach, which has long been, “What’s the minimum we need to do to comply with the law?”
I believe Galera can do what you wish for because he went thru the ranks and is a school-based BOE member who knows the struggles of students, teachers, and parents.
Hopefully, he also knows the waste of time in prepping students for tests just so that superintendent can brag. Brag about numbers that she probably doesn’t understand.
I would not want such a position. The system is what it is.
You cant change education if the laws and rules dont change, and the pot of money to support education remains unchanged or less.
Teachers have been doing more for less year after year. Technology has helped alleviate the situations, but the daily grind is still there.
The proof is in the data….you dont see people banging down the DOE door to become a teacher.
Like private schools, you get what you pay for….or at the very least, expect to get more or else they lose revenue from a drop in enrollment.
I wish him the best but I wish we had more general community members on the BOE. DOE career folks are not likely to call for something much different than what they knew. Then again, would Ige appoint a change-agent? Not likely. Also, where are the BOE members who can advocate for a fully integrated pre-k to grade 12 system? Not one member is an early education person. That is odd given legislative and national mandates.
Those who can not teach, become the bosses, with the DOE.
What do you do with baseball players & football players, who become blind ? You make them umpires or referees.
guess you didn’t read the article.
I did. And, I have watched the DOE, since the 1960s. It is a system, that has built in failure. A new face, must be able to change an old & giant machine.
Motivation matters critically. What we call 12th grade proficiency in Reading and Math most normal children could attain by age 14, at the latest, if a loving parent supplied the instruction. The State of Hawaii spends over $12,000 per pupil-year for 12 years and cannot accomplish this. Compulsion kills motivation. The DOE lives to waste tax money and children’s potential. Nobody with any political power wants to change it in any major way. No politically possible fix exists for this corrupt system. Responsible parents will not wait for a savior or a miracle. Homeschool.
True and also not true. Depends on the person of course.
If Galera cant influence and lead the changes that is necessary to improve all areas of public education, then I dont believe anyone else will, ever.
With that being said, I hope things improve.
a thankless calling and a dubious outcome?
Galera appears to be wearing Billy Kenoi’s old aloha shirt!
Nothing says “no change” like a system insider with a Masters in Education.
The K-12 schools system is a huge waste of time, money, and children’s potential. In bstract, the education industry is a highly unlikely candidate for State (government, generally) operation. The State cannot subsidize education without a definition of “education”. The State cannot operate schools without a definition of “school”. The State cannot employ teachers without a definition of “teacher”. Statutes and policies of State agencies (that is, policies with the force of law) enshrine these definitions. Students, parents, real teachers, and taxpayers are bound by these definitions.
Children are not standard. Homeschool. Nothing in Hawaii Revised Statutes requires that homeschooling instruction occur between 0800 and 1430. You can legally extend daycare to age 17 and take the GED.
Darrel is an excellent choice and someone who has been a leader in the movement for school and curricular re-design. His commitment is beyond question. He understands schools, the Department, and the community.
Article should read “Ige appoints a yes man to the BOE”. I foresee no change. Same stuff, just different faces. 🙁
i sincerely doubt if the characterization as “a yes man” fits this appointee. he was a lightning rod for effective change during his tenure as XO at MHS.
Knowing how Ige operates, I’m sure he was. The appointment process is very political. Ige took heat from the BOE for forming the advisory committee headed by the man, so now he’s sticking it to the BOE.
very good choice!!