Interim superintendent pledges continuity
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By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Bringing with her more than 26 years of experience in Hawai'i's schools, Pat Hamamoto took over the reins of the Department of Education yesterday, becoming only the second woman superintendent in state history.
Interim schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto said it is too early to say if she will seek the job on a permanent basis.
Hamamoto went to work as deputy superintendent on Thursday. By the end of the day she was caught up in the lightning departure of schools chief Paul LeMahieu, and promoted into the top spot by the Board of Education.
She will serve as interim superintendent until August, which is when LeMahieu's contract would have expired. Hamamoto said it is too early to say if she will be interested in the job in the long term.
"Like everyone in the state, we are saddened by what has occurred," she said of LeMahieu's departure. And she spent her first day on the job reassuring department employees that there will be no abrupt changes in direction.
The department will continue with LeMahieu's reforms, Hamamoto said, praising them as "sound."
Despite being unsettled by the turmoil in the department, educators around the state yesterday expressed confidence in Hamamoto's leadership. With her background as a teacher and principal, observers say she has a strong understanding of what the schools need from the chief's office.
Pat Hamamoto
Position: Acting superintendent of schools, appointed Thursday.
Previous job: Deputy superintendent, appointed by Paul LeMahieu in February 1999. Before that, she was principal of McKinley High School.
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Education: Bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach, and at the time of her appointment as deputy superintendent she was doing graduate coursework at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. She is a graduate of Maryknoll High School.
Having headed up department efforts to improve special education services, Hamamoto also provides continuity as the state races to meet a court deadline to avoid the appointment of a receiver over the system. Despite the change of leadership, Hamamoto said she believes the systems are in place to continue the work without disruption.
One of her first tasks will be appointing a new deputy. That person will be someone from within the Department of Education, with a "long positive history," she said.
Hamamoto began teaching at Highlands Intermediate in 1975. Her first principalship was at Pearl City Highlands Elementary in 1987. She also has worked in the personnel office at the state level and was appointed deputy superintendent by LeMahieu in 1999.
