Recently, Chaminade student, Danny Acidera, attended the National Educators Association (NEA) Early Career Educators Conference in Wisconsin. Early Career Educators from 14 different states gathered to discuss how they could engage other Early Career Educators in being active in their state and national teachers union. The Hawaii Team presented on Hawaii's Early Career Educator Group. From left to right: Danny Acidera (Chaminade), Jenifer Evans (Moanalua Elementary Scool), Kaitlyn Cleveland (Solomon Elementary School), Lydia Haff (UH West Oahu), and Jame LynchUrbaniak (HSTA).
The Hawaii State Teachers Association announced the appointment of Chaminade Education student, Danny Rhey Acidera, as its new National Education Association (NEA) Student Program chair for Hawaii. Acidera will serve on the board of directors for Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) as the representative of preservice Student NEA members in Hawaii. Tenured for the 2016 to 2017 school year, he will act as liaison between the HSTA, NEA, and the approximately 700 student NEA members across Hawaii.
Majoring in Education at Chaminade, Acidera will garner invaluable skills and experiences as the HSTA/NEA Student Program chair. He will represent all college students in university education programs across Hawaii. In addition, his responsibilities include attending HSTA Board meetings, bringing university education programs together, educating them about the state and national teachers union, and providing support wherever else he can.
“So far I have linked up with UH Manoa, HPU, Chaminade, and UH West Oahu,” wrote Acidera. “We have plans to reach out to BYU and other universities, community colleges and teacher prep programs.”
Acidera looks forward to his tenure, which will focus on the pillars of the NEA student program -- professional development, political action, community service and, of course, fun.