Two Hawai'i public school teachers — Paul Burnett Jr., a science teacher at Waialua Elementary, and Shari Kaneshiro, a math teacher at Hokulani Elementary — have been named national winners of the 2006 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching , the nation's highest honor for K-12 math and science teachers.

Burnett and Kaneshiro will each receive a $10,000 cash award from the National Science Foundation. They will also receive expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C., next week to attend recognition events, professional development activities, and meetings with government and education leaders.

Established by Congress in 1983, and administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation, the program identifies outstanding mathematics and science teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. A national committee of scientists, mathematicians, and educators annually selects up to 108 teachers nationwide for the award.

The program recognizes elementary and secondary teachers in alternate years, with elementary teachers being honored in the 2006-07 school year.

Other state finalists for science were Joan Hansen of Likelike Elementary and Laurie White of 'Iolani School. Mathematics: Shari Higashi of Salt Lake Elementary and Lena Sumiye (Nanakuli/Pearl City/Waipahu resource teacher; formerly of Waipahu Elementary).

For more information, go to www.paemst.org.

'IOLANI FINALIST IN ECONOMICS EVENT

Student teams from eight high schools across the country, including Hawai'i's 'Iolani High School, will compete this month in New York as finalists in the National Economics Challenge competition, sponsored by the National Council on Economic Education and the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

'Iolani will be competing in both of the May 21 competition's divisions: the Adam Smith Division, which is tailored for advanced-placement students as well as international baccalaureate and honors students, and the David Ricardo Division, geared by single-semester general economics students.

The eight teams previously won state and regional competitions defeating nearly 1,000 teams from 37 states to advance to the championship series.

UH NAMES EDUCATION DEAN

Christine K. Sorensen has been appointed the dean of the University of Hawai'i-Manoa College of Education, effective Aug. 10

Interim Manoa Chancellor Denise Eby Konan made the announcement last week.

Sorensen has been dean of the College of Education at Northern Illinois University since 2001, overseeing six departments serving about 5,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs, a UH news release said.

Northern Illinois University is one of the 10 largest teacher preparation institutions in the country.

CENTRAL'S HO'IKE SET FOR MAY 25

Central Middle School will hold its fifth annual Ho'ike event on May 25.

It will feature cultural performances by students followed by dinner. For information, call the school's Ho'ike 2007 Committee at 587-4400.