Teacher Shortage: Real? Solvable?

In December 2007, Joan retired as HSTA’S Executive Director and Chief Negotiator ending a career that began in 1971 when HSTA was founded.

As a staff member she negotiated fifteen teacher collective bargaining agreements and guided the Association through the Association through three strikes and one walkout. Her duties included supervising field staff, legal cases, research and negotiations.

Joan served as the Chair and member of the Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, a member of the Commission on Excellence and the Commission on Comparable Worth. Currently, she is a board member of the Education Institute of Hawaii and the National Labor Employment Relations Association. The Governor appointed her to the national governors’ Education Commission of the States. Previously, she served on both the Aloha United Way and the PBS Hawaii board of directors.