Governor Green Appointed Two Educators to Standards Board
The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board will add two state Teachers of the Year, pending approval by the state Senate.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in People
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Governor Josh Green has appointed J. Elise Hannigan and Kristen Lum Brummel to the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board. These nominations for the state body now await confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate.
Why it matters
The board oversees professional standards and licensure for the state's educator workforce, and these appointments bring two former Hawaii State Teachers of the Year into the governance process.
The appointments include two educators with a combined teaching experience that includes J. Elise Hannigan’s 15-year career in public schools. If approved, Hannigan will serve a term scheduled to end on June 30, 2029.
The players
Josh Green
The Governor of Hawaii who holds the authority to appoint members to state regulatory boards and commissions.
J. Elise Hannigan
An English teacher and Freshman Academy Coordinator at Keaʻau High School and the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year.
Kristen Lum Brummel
The 2011 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year appointed to represent educator interests on the standards board.
Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board
The state regulatory body that sets and maintains professional licensure and conduct standards for Hawaii educators.
Hawaiʻi State Senate
The upper chamber of the state legislature responsible for confirming gubernatorial appointments to state boards.
The details
The Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board functions as the regulatory entity responsible for setting licensure requirements and professional conduct standards for educators across the state. Governor Josh Green announced the nominations on September 29, 2026, selecting both Hannigan and Brummel based on their recognition as former Hawaii State Teachers of the Year. The transition to the board remains subject to the Hawaiʻi State Senate confirmation process, which serves as the final check on gubernatorial appointments.
Timeline
2011: Kristen Lum Brummel was named Hawaiʻi Teacher of the Year.
September 29, 2026: Governor Green announced the board appointments.
2026: J. Elise Hannigan was named Hawaiʻi Teacher of the Year.
June 30, 2029: The proposed end date for J. Elise Hannigan’s term.
Market Landscape
The Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board operates under the mandate of state licensing statutes to regulate the professional entry requirements for the local education sector. These appointments follow the established pattern of integrating classroom-level expertise into the administrative oversight of professional standards.
Operators in the education and workforce development sectors should monitor Senate confirmation calendars to track when these new board members assume their regulatory duties. Shifts in board composition often signal potential updates to licensure requirements or professional development mandates.
The takeaway
These appointments highlight a move toward centering current award-winning educators in regulatory governance. Business owners working with the state education system should prepare for potential policy shifts as new board members review existing standards before the 2029 term conclusion.
What happens next
The Hawaiʻi State Senate must hold confirmation hearings and a floor vote to finalize the appointments of J. Elise Hannigan and Kristen Lum Brummel.
Further reading
For more on changes to state boards and leadership, see our coverage of Hawaii People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Island Video News.
Live Poll
Do you believe having current teachers on the state standards board improves local education quality?
