Judith “Elise” Hannigan, a veteran educator from Keaau High School on Hawaii island, has been named the 2026 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made during a formal ceremony at Washington Place in Honolulu on Friday, recognizing her significant contributions to student success and innovative school programs.
Key Takeaways
- Judith “Elise” Hannigan, an English teacher and Freshman Academy coordinator at Keaau High, received the state's top teaching honor for 2026.
- She has been an educator at the school for 13 years, developing programs that significantly improved freshman promotion rates.
- Her work led Keaau High to be recognized as a certified model academy by the National Career Academy Coalition.
- The award was presented at a ceremony attended by Governor Josh Green and other state officials, who praised the dedication of all Hawaii educators.
A Career Focused on Student Support
For 13 years, Hannigan has been a fixture at Keaau High School, demonstrating a deep commitment to its students. Her career has spanned a wide range of roles, from teaching ninth-grade inclusion English to instructing Advanced Placement (AP) literature for seniors.
Currently, she serves as the school's Freshman Academy coordinator. In this position, she has focused on creating a supportive environment for students transitioning into high school, a critical period for academic development and personal growth.
The Importance of Freshman Academies
Freshman academies are structured programs designed to help ninth-grade students successfully adapt to high school. They often involve creating smaller learning communities, providing dedicated teacher teams, and offering targeted support to improve student engagement, attendance, and academic performance during this pivotal year.
Implementing Impactful Programs
Hannigan's leadership has been instrumental in launching several key initiatives at Keaau High. Her efforts have produced measurable results, directly benefiting the student body and earning the school national recognition.
Since taking on her coordinator role, she has spearheaded programs that led to a notable improvement in the promotion rate of students from ninth to 10th grade. This success contributed to the school earning certification as a model academy from the National Career Academy Coalition.
Key Initiatives Led by Hannigan
- Early College Program: She launched the school's first-ever early college program, allowing seniors to earn college credits while still in high school.
- Career Exploration Fair: She organizes an annual fair to expose students to various career paths and professional opportunities.
- Summer Bridge Program: This program, which she oversees, helps incoming freshmen acclimate to the high school environment before the school year begins.
The Philosophy of Lasting Influence
Hannigan's teaching philosophy is centered on the idea that small, daily actions can have a profound and lasting impact on a student's life. She calls this concept "ripples."
She shared a story of a nervous student preparing for an AP English exam. She wrote a simple message on a note card for him: “You’ll do on the test exactly as well as you put in the effort to do.”
“That’s what I call ripples — those daily little things you do that could impact a student’s life,” Hannigan explained. “You won’t see the waves until years and years later. … It’s really gratifying to know at the end of the day that I might have made a difference.”
Years later, that same student, now a teacher himself at Keaau High, told her that message guided him through college and into his own career.
Overcoming Discouragement
When Hannigan expressed her desire to become a teacher, especially in the Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complex area and working with ninth graders, she was often told, “You don’t want to do that.” Her response at the ceremony was clear: “Well, it turns out that I did want to do that, and all of those things and more.”
State Leaders Celebrate Educators
The ceremony at Washington Place was attended by numerous state leaders, including Governor Josh Green, first lady Jaime Kanani Green, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, and Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi. They gathered to honor not only Hannigan but all teachers across the state.
Governor Green described Hawaii’s teachers as the “true core of our society.”
“Thank you from our hearts for being teachers,” Green said. “It is the most important thing that we can do. … Being surrounded by those who are going to help our keiki makes all the difference for us.”
Superintendent Hayashi emphasized that the award celebrates the collective effort of all educators. “Today is more than just about selecting one Teacher of the Year,” he stated. “It’s about uplifting all of the incredible teachers across our state who dedicate their lives to nurturing curiosity, building confidence and preparing our students for a bright future.”
Honoring Nominees Across the State
The event, emceed by 2025 State Teacher of the Year Bryan Silver of Kalani High School, also recognized 15 other nominees from various complex areas and public charter schools.
2026 Teacher of the Year Nominees:
- David Adler, Nanakuli Elementary (Nanakuli-Waianae)
- Claire Ann (Kalaunuola) Domingo, Ke Kula o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory PCS
- Jodi Kadoyama, Manana Elementary (Pearl City-Waipahu)
- Josette (Kaleo) Akim Hanohano, Kahuku High & Intermediate (Castle-Kahuku)
- Steve Hanks, Honokaa High & Intermediate (Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena)
- Jessica Canyon, Fern Elementary (Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani)
- Emily Mendoza, Aiea High (Aiea-Moanalua-Radford)
- Kristel Pigao, Waihee Elementary (Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kulanihakoi-Maui)
- Kris Tajima, Kauluwela Elementary (Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt)
- Kathleen Trifonovitch, Maunawili Elementary (Kailua-Kalaheo)
- Susan Chew, Lanai High & Elementary (Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai-Molokai)
- Christopher Justo, Mililani Middle (Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua)
- Dawn Spurrell-Robinson, Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area (Hilo-Waiakea)
- Natsumi Yamasato, Wilcox Elementary (Kapa‘a-Kaua‘i-Waimea)
Hannigan will now represent Hawaii in the National Teacher of the Year competition, where she will share her expertise and passion for education on a national stage.
