Hawaii DOE Focuses on Building School Leadership, Creates Leadership Institute

News Release from Hawaii DoE March 19, 2013

HONOLULU - The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) this month will launch a new strategic initiative to support and develop effective leadership in public schools.

As the DOE continues its strategic transformation, the Hawaii State Board of Education (BOE) and the DOE have created a Leadership Institute under the Office of the Superintendent to manage the effort of strengthening department-wide leadership effectiveness.

“The need for a new approach to school leadership is evident, especially as we face the potential retirement of a number of veteran principals,” stated Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “The challenges and opportunities for developing effective leadership starts where the leadership pipeline begins – identification, recruitment, development, and support of school leaders. The capacity to lead and manage change represents one of the largest risks to the Department’s efforts to transform Hawaii’s system of education.”

Douglas Murata, the DOE’s assistant superintendent for the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and a veteran senior executive specializing in strategic and change management in Hawaii, has been tapped to head this effort at the Leadership Institute.

Mr. Murata joined the DOE in June 2011, bringing an established record of turnaround management and system transformation for over 20 years. He played a major role in leading organizational change efforts at The Queen’s Health Systems, Pacific Guardian Life, and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply toward improved performance, as well as resource, economic, and organizational sustainability. Mr. Murata also served as president and CEO of Royal State National and Mutual Benefit Trust at Royal State Insurance, where he developed and implemented a turnaround strategy as part of a new strategic vision. Murata earned a master’s degree in business administration, and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii. He begins his new post on March 25.

Succeeding Mr. Murata as OHR assistant superintendent will be Corey Moriyama, a Senior Human Resources executive with 25 years of expertise in the private, public and non-profit sector. He is a leader, problem solver, strategic planner in all areas of HR management, process improvement, affirmative action, diversity and labor relations that has impacted 26 states.

Mr. Moriyama comes to the DOE from the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar (A&B, LLC), where he is director of human resources. He has previously served as the director of human resources at Minnesota State University Moorhead and at the Seattle Department of Transportation. Mr. Moriyama has also held human resources leadership positions at the Washington State Department of Transportation, Hawaii Human Development, Coca-Cola of Northern California, and California Pacific Medical Center. Mr. Moriyama possesses a wealth of expertise in human resources strategies, programs, policies, and processes. He holds a master's degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Oregon, and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Hawaii. He has served as an adjunct instructor at Hawaiian Educational Council, Hawaii Pacific University, Heald College, Denver Business College, Kapiolani Community College.

About the Leadership Institute

The Leadership Institute is the first step in fulfilling the DOE’s strategic directive for increased attention and support around the development of effective school, complex area and state level leaders.

Effective school leadership is the key to establishing and sustaining new beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among employees who have the most direct influence and control over student learning and achievement.

Staff of the Professional Development and Educational Research Institute (PDERI) and the New Teacher Center of Hawaii will be transferred to the Institute. This reconstitution of PDERI and the New Teacher Center of Hawaii under the Institute will provide a much clearer statement of direction around the critical importance of leadership effectiveness.

Successful transformation of Hawaii’s educational system depends on quality and excellence in school leadership. With the Institute, DOE will focus on reshaping the culture for learning in our schools and achieve lasting, sustainable conditions for student success.