NIU Valley Middle School teacher Zachary Morita earns HSTA's 2022 Stacy Award for Teaching Excellence

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HSTA President Osa Tui Jr., HSTA Vice President Lisa Morrison, 2022 S.T.A.C.Y. Award recipient Zachary Morita, HSTA Vice President Logan Okita and HSTA NEA Director Aaron Kubo. | Courtesy of Hawaii State Teachers Association

Hawaii State Teachers Association has issued the following press release:

The Hawaii State Teachers Association’s S.T.A.C.Y. Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes a teacher who demonstrates leadership, dedication, and passion in five categories: scholarship, teaching, advocacy, community, and youth. It is one of the highest honors bestowed by the association.

This year’s recipient is Zachary Morita, a music teacher at Niu Valley Middle School on Oahu. The HSTA recognized Zachary at its annual state convention on Saturday, April 2.

Scholarship: A music educator for 14 years, Zachary is a lifelong learner committed to his teaching practice to positively impact student growth. He shares his story with others via social media in the hopes of supporting and connecting with other educators within his school, state, and beyond.

Teaching: Through ongoing personal and professional learning, Zachary incorporated a more innovative approach to his instruction that centers on both teacher and students being learners who are responsible for growing through collaboration. He often seeks special opportunities for his students, such as when his school’s concert band performed at the 2019 Australian International Music Festival in Sydney under Zachary’s instruction.

Advocacy: Zachary is an active member of HSTA, and his commitment to advocate for his fellow educators is evident through his involvement in various leadership roles within the union.

Community: In 2018, Zachary rallied the support of his school and community to win the Farmers Insurance Dream Big Teacher Challenge Grant, worth $100,000. He used the money to create a Music Olympic Invitational, an American-Idol-type of musical competition for students playing instruments, and now encourages other teachers to apply for the grant.

Youth: In 2014, Zachary also founded Hawaii Youth Percussion Ensemble, a nonprofit organization whose vision is to create a community of musicians who are drawn together to develop and share their love and appreciation of music. Through his nonprofit, Zachary has been able to provide opportunities for students to travel, perform, and work with well-known musicians and conductors.

After receiving the award in front of HSTA 125 member delegates at the union’s convention Saturday, Zachary said, “I have to give so much gratitude to all my past and present and Niu Valley learners…We explore we innovate, we fail, reflect we learn, grow, and we repeat. Our learning is messy. And sometimes my students don't understand why we do certain learning activities. But I truly believe that a personalized learning environment is how we build the confidence within our learners.

“This award is representative of a community of passionate educators intertwined with one another. Several years ago I reached a breaking point like other teachers may have had, but connection and community saved me. I'm fortunate and grateful and humbled by many who continually inspired me to be better,” Zachary added.

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Award for Teaching Excellence program was established to celebrate the outstanding work of the late Stacy Nishina, an outstanding public school teacher, a longtime staff member of HSTA, and the supporter of all HSTA’s state candidates for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.

As the recipient of this year’s award, Zachary will be HSTA’s nominee for the 2023 NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.

About the Hawaii State Teachers Association: The Hawaii State Teachers Association is the exclusive representative of 13,500 public school teachers statewide. HSTA represents and supports teachers in collective bargaining, as well as legislative and professional development issues.