Ex-Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza engaged to former DOE administrator

Ex-Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza engaged to former DOE administrator

Ex-NYC Universities Chancellor Richard Carranza — who resigned amid a cloud of controversy in 2021 — is engaged to the former Department of Training staffer he employed for a 6-figure gig through his troubled tenure, The Submit has discovered.

Carranza — mariachi enthusiast and chancellor below Mayor Bill de Blasio — serenaded his sweetheart Raquel Sosa in San Antonio, Texas, even though popping the query with bouquets and a ring, in accordance to online video he posted on social media.

“When you suggest, you have to sing…,” Carranza, 55, wrote on Twitter Sunday.

The proposal arrived roughly a month soon after Carranza’s divorce from his next wife, Monique, was finalized in mid-June, court records reviewed by The Publish clearly show.

The ex-faculties manager brought Sosa, then a Houston elementary faculty principal, to the Huge Apple in 2018 to oversee community college pupils learning English and in short-term housing. The submit experienced a beginning salary of $149,000.

Whistleblowers filed a complaint with the city’s Special Commissioner of Investigation at the time alleging Carranza, a previous faculties superintendent in Houston, experienced improperly waived career postings and other specifications to employ the service of ex-staffers, which includes Sosa, who he realized from previous posts in Texas and California.

Carranza previously hired Raquel Sosa to a DOE job where she made $149,000.
Carranza formerly hired Raquel Sosa to a DOE job in which she designed $149,000.
Carranza popping the question in a San Antonio restaurant.
Carranza popping the question in a San Antonio restaurant.
Twitter
Carranza's proposal comes about a month after his divorce with his second wife was finalized.
Carranza’s proposal arrives about a month following his divorce with his next spouse was finalized.
Twitter

The SCI for metropolis educational facilities, however, shut the case and declined to say irrespective of whether it investigated the allegations.

Carranza — who was still married at the time — was slapped with a $1,100 wonderful for improperly using Sosa on a DOE outing to see the common Broadway clearly show “Hamilton” in 2019. His wife filed for divorce in August 2020.

Significantly less than a week following Carranza’s very last working day as chancellor in April 2021, Sosa registered to vote from an condominium the two shared in San Antonio. She only quit her job as a leading administrator in the DOE’s Workplace of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Discovering numerous months later, The Put up earlier noted.

Carranza — who about the program of his 3-12 months tenure championed academic screening admissions reform and culturally responsive curriculum — declared his resignation in early 2021, indicating he wanted time to grieve 11 liked types misplaced to COVID-19.

Sosa, for every her Twitter bio, is now an academic guide at Carranza Educational Consulting, LLC., where by her shortly-to-be hubbie also works.

“Te amo mi vida ♥” — or ‘I appreciate you, my life’ — she commented on his submit.

Carranza and Sosa showing off the engagement ring.
Carranza and Sosa exhibiting off the engagement ring.
Twitter
Carranza serenaded Sosa in the restaurant.
Carranza serenaded Sosa in the cafe.
Twitter

It is not the 1st time Carranza has utilized his serenade techniques. The mariachi musician also sang to previous Very first Woman Chirlane McCray through his job interview for the school boss gig, New York Magazine described.

Carranza did not respond to a request for remark.

Supplemental reporting by Susan Edelman.

Hawaii DOE | Waikele Elementary leader honored as a 2022 National Outstanding Assistant Principal

Hawaii DOE | Waikele Elementary leader honored as a 2022 National Outstanding Assistant Principal

The Countrywide Affiliation of Elementary Faculty Principals (NAESP) this week announced Waikele Elementary’s Stacy Kawamura as a 2022 National Remarkable Assistant Principal. Every calendar year NAESP acknowledges a decide on cohort of assistant principals from across the region. This year 22 assistant principals nationwide were regarded — 17 from elementary educational facilities and five from the middle college amount.

The NAESP National Excellent Assistant Principal System aims to advertise excellence in instructional leadership and calls interest to the elementary significance of the assistant principal. Honorees are acknowledged for demonstrating remarkable leadership and for placing large requirements for students, colleagues, mother and father and the neighborhood.

“As a previous principal, I know how crucial assistant principals are to a effective and thriving college group,” interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi mentioned. “I’ve had the enjoyment of working with Stacy via Waipahu Intricate collaborations and have viewed first-hand how she supports her staff and prioritizes the needs of all learners. She is passionate in supporting her faculty neighborhood and is truly dedicated to enriching the lives of others. We are extremely proud to have leaders like Stacy Kawamura serving within our Hawaiʻi public educational facilities.”

As vice principal of Waikele Elementary for the earlier seven decades, a person of Kawamura’s most considerable accomplishments has been assisting to acquire the school’s nationally distinctive academy pathway software. At first an arts academy plan, the college expanded the software to include age-suitable Vocation and Technical Education and learning (CTE) classes that align with the Waipahu Complex’s determination to university and job readiness. Kawamura helped articulate to academics the shift in focus by producing connections with other significant college academy courses. By means of Waikele Elementary’s academy pathway application — the initially of its type in the nation — learners are now exposed to a assortment of career chances, building their changeover to sophisticated location secondary schools a lot more seamless.

Kawamura has also helped acquire group partnerships with the school, which present alternatives for students to have interaction with their community and apply classroom classes to the actual earth. She is also credited with creating a qualified growth and mastering framework that has helped her college build a collaborative culture that engages school and employees. 

Waikele Elementary School Principal Sheldon Oshio praises Kawamura’s means as a chief to collaborate with colleagues and cultivate a beneficial finding out lifestyle. “Her enthusiasm, rapport and treatment for anyone is obvious,” Principal Oshio mentioned. “Mrs. Kawamura develops great interactions with family members and pupils, and communicates correctly. Earlier mentioned all, Mrs. Kawamura is a legitimate studying leader who prospects by example. Her management is appreciated and respected inside the college neighborhood.”

Kawamura earned a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Reports from the Washington College in St. Louis, a master’s diploma in secondary instruction from the University of Phoenix, and a second master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Prior to her vice principal job at Waikele Elementary, she served as a instructor at Pearl City High and Kapolei High.

Kawamura will be invited to Kentucky this July to get her award at the annual NAESP Pre-K-8 Countrywide Principals Conference. 

This recognition was created probable by users of the Hawaiʻi Elementary and Middle Educational institutions Directors Affiliation, the community affiliate of NAESP. It arrives as element of Countrywide Assistant Principals 7 days (April 4-8, 2022), which is celebrated each April to identify the important role assistant principals enjoy in the over-all tutorial achievement of learners nationwide.

Hawaii DOE | Waiakea High School’s Whitney Aragaki named 2022 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) today named Waiākea High School teacher Whitney Aragaki the 2022 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year. Aragaki received the state’s top teaching award from Gov. David Ige and Interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi during a virtual awards ceremony this afternoon.

Aragaki will represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program. The honor is presented annually to a classroom teacher selected from more than 13,000 HIDOE educators. Aragaki was among 15 Complex Area Teachers of the Year and the Charter School Teacher of the Year recognized today.

“Whitney’s innovative approach to teaching offers students meaningful cultural and place-based learning opportunities that are both rigorous and relevant to our young learners,” Interim Superintendent Hayashi said. “Science can be an intimidating subject for students, but Whitney successfully engages her students in exciting and empowering ways.

Aragaki has been teaching at Waiākea High for 10 years and currently serves as a 10th-grade biology and Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science teacher. Her classroom activities are known to put students in touch with their local communities and are designed around learning through problem solving. Beyond science, Arakgaki’s educational activities offer students opportunities to elevate their leadership and civic responsibility within the community.

In 2018 the Department awarded Aragaki an innovation grant to support her proposal for Science Buddies, a program where AP science students could make an impact on the next generation of science learners in their own community by creating standards-based lessons for elementary classrooms. What resulted from the program were hands-on, locally based, and academically rigorous activities for over 250 students in grades 3-5.

While challenging, Aragaki’s methods of teaching have invited students to explore the world of science. “Mrs. Aragaki perseveres on a daily basis to provide her students with the proper experience, knowledge and environment they need to open up to being willing to engage in STEM,” Waiākea High alumna Lela DeVine shared. “The honesty and transparency throughout the classroom that allows her students to feel safe and inclusive is what sets Mrs. Aragaki apart from any teacher I have ever had.”

Also an alumna of Waiākea High, Aragaki has worked to further improve her school community through the creation of the peer-to-peer Warrior Professional Learning Community (PLC). After noticing a large turnover of teachers at her school, Aragaki initiated this teacher induction and mentoring group for those both new to the school and new to the profession to help foster a greater sense of school culture and belonging. Through the New Warrior PLC, new teachers receive training on career academies, how to support future first-generation college students, classroom technology integration, and other professional development sessions by school-based teacher leaders.

“Mrs. Aragaki’s commitment to excellence goes far beyond her teaching and the four corners of her classroom,” Waiākea High Principal Kelcy Koga said. “She sees the benefits that a sound education can provide, and is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to not only serve her students but her colleagues and school community as well.”

In addition to her classroom teacher role, Aragaki has taught AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics and AP Computer Science Principles for the statewide Hawaiʻi Virtual Learning Network’s E-School since 2013. She is the lead teacher of the Waiākea High Public Services Academy, which was recognized as a National Model Academy under the National Career Academy Coalition in 2018. A National Board Certified Teacher, Aragaki was also a 2019 and 2021 state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). 

The full list of finalists honored today are, in alphabetical order:

  • ʻĀina Akamu, Ka‘ū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area, Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.
  • Wesley Capdepon, Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area, Honokaʻa Elementary.
  • Cara Chaudron, Public Charter Schools, SEEQS: The School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability.
  • Trisha Gibson, ‘Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area, ‘Aiea Elementary.
  • Wendy Gumm, Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area, Nānāikapono Elementary.
  • Ashley Ito-Macion, Pearl City-Waipahu Complex Area, Kanoelani Elementary.
  • Corrie Izumoto, Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area, Kawānanakoa Middle.
  • Jim Kunimitsu, Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area, Pōhākea Elementary.
  • Richard Lau, Kailua-Kalāheo Complex Area, Kalāheo High.
  • Theresa Malone, Kapaʻa-Kauaʻi-Waimea Complex Area, Kalāheo Elementary.
  • Jeni Miyahira, Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area, Mililani High.
  • Miyuki Sekimitsu, Castle-Kahuku Complex Area, Kāne‘ohe Elementary.
  • Wendy Shigeta, Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area, Haha‘ione Elementary.
  • Bill Tatro, Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokaʻi Complex Area, Lahainaluna High.
  • Lisa Yamada, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area, Wailuku Elementary.

Today’s virtual ceremony included:

  • Honorariums to each finalist by Hawaiian Electric Co. 
  • A one-year lease of a 2022 Subaru Impreza courtesy of Subaru Hawaii to the winner.