STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1564

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 747, 748, 749, 750

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 747, 748, 749, and 750, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Early Learning Advisory Board

 

G.M. No. 747

LYNN CABATO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 748

MAUREEN RAWLINS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014;

 

G.M. No. 749

KERRIE UROSEVICH,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014; and

 

G.M. No. 750

BENJAMIN NAKI III,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Lynn Cabato, Maureen Rawlins, Kerrie Urosevich, and Benjamin Naki III to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Early Learning Advisory Board.

 

LYNN CABATO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lynn Cabato from the Executive Office on Early Learning; Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc.; and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Cabato is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development.

 

     Ms. Cabato is currently the Director of the Head Start Program at Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc. (HCAP).  Prior to this, she served as the Assistant Director, Program Manager, Family Services Coordinator, Teacher, and Social Service Aide for HCAP's Head Start Program.

 

     Ms. Cabato is also a member of the National/Regional Head Start Association, Vice President of the Head Start Association of Hawaii, and a former Board Member of the Good Beginnings Alliance.

 

     Ms. Cabato testified that in over thirty years of experience in early learning, she has seen the tremendous importance early learning plays in children's success throughout life.

 

Ms. Cabato also testified that one of her goals as a member of the Early Learning Advisory Council is to continue to help build the capacity of the Executive Office on Early Learning and strengthen the alignment of policies and programs between the Executive Office on Learning and the Department of Education.

 

     Ms. Cabato's over thirty years of experience in the early learning field will be an asset to the Early Learning Advisory Council.

 

MAUREEN RAWLINS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Maureen Rawlins from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Native Hawaiian Education Council, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalaniōpuu Iki Charter School, Imiloa Astronomy of Hawaii at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Aha Pūnana Leo, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Maureen Rawlins received a Bachelor's degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  She is currently working toward earning a Master's degree in Hawaiian Language and Literature from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

     Most recently, Ms. Rawlins served as the Executive Director of Aha Pūnana Leo, Inc.

 

     Ms. Rawlins is a past Chair of, and currently sits on, the Executive Council of the Native Hawaiian Education Statewide Council.  She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

 

     Ms. Rawlins has participated as a presenter, panelist, and key note speaker at numerous conferences relating to native languages.  In 2011, Ms. Rawlins was the keynote speaker at the United States Department of Education's Native American Language Program.

 

     Ms. Rawlins testified that her role on the Early Learning Advisory Council is to advise the Executive Office on Learning on the best ways to meet the educational needs of all children who participate in the State's early learning program.  She noted that she is also in the unique position of being able to serve as a bridge between a statewide early learning program and the Hawaiian language immersion program.

 

     Ms. Rawlins' tremendous expertise and experience with the Hawaiian language will provide the Early Learning Advisory Board with a unique perspective and assist the Board with addressing Hawaii's highly distinctive situation of having two official state languages and providing public education in English and the Native Hawaiian language.

 

KERRIE UROSEVICH

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Kerrie Urosevich from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Hui for Excellence in Education, YMCA of Honolulu, and thirteen individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Kerrie Urosevich received Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Japanese from Gustavus Adolphus College.  She went on to receive a Master's degree in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, specializing in Conflict Resolution.  She is currently a candidate for a Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Ms. Urosevich is currently the Executive Director of Family Hui, an organization that supports families with children from birth through age five, focusing on a peer-led, neighborhood-based framework.

 

     Ms. Urosevich has volunteered her time as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Hawaii Chapter; with the Southern Poverty Law Center; and with the International Development Council, among other organizations.

 

     Ms. Urosevich testified that her goal as a member of the Early Learning Advisory Board is to ensure that the early learning system focuses not only on serving all four years, but also on ensuring that the early learning system includes younger children.  Ms. Urosevich also stressed the importance of continuing to focus on strengthening school and family partnerships.

 

     Ms. Urosevich's educational and executive experience, with an emphasis on collaboration and public service, will serve her well as the parent representative on the Early Learning Advisory Board and in representing the diverse needs of Hawaii's families.

 

BENJAMIN NAKI III

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Benjamin Naki III from the Governor, Executive Office on Early Learning, Department of Health, Parents and Children Together, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Naki is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools.  He went on to attend Kapiolani College and the University of Hawaii, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Family Resources.  He received a Master's degree in Counseling and Psychology from Chaminade University.

 

     Mr. Naki is the Program Director for the Parents and Children Together (PACT) Early Head Start/Head Start Program (Program).  Prior to this, he severed as the Assistant Director of the Program, the Comprehensive Service Manager, and Family Services Coordinator.  Mr. Naki has also served as a Father Facilitator for PACT's Hui Makuakane Program.

 

     Mr. Naki volunteers much of his time with early education programs including the Head Start Association of Hawaii and the Board of Directors of the Region IX Head Start Association.  He has also served as a Co-Chair for the Hawaii Coalition for Dads and as a Nurturing Families Facilitator.

 

     Mr. Naki is also a past participant of the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Head Start Management Fellows Program.

 

     Mr. Naki testified that he believes the Early Learning Advisory Council should focus on establishing standards for the statewide early learning program, the recruitment of qualified early learning staff, the role of higher education, and building public and private collaborations to support the statewide early learning program.

 

     Mr. Naki has a strong background in early education and family engagement, and these qualities will make him an excellent addition to the Early Learning Advisory Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair