Winston Sakurai, Ed.D. Email & Phone Number

Winston Sakurai has distinguished himself as an innovative educational leader at the state and national level for over 30 years. He was named by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as a 2016 National Digital Principal of the Year and by the Hawaii Association of Secondary School Administrators as the 2015-16 Hawaii State Principal of the Year. He currently facilitates a national education leadership network for school leaders. In 1993 at the age of 20 Sakurai was appointed by Governor John Waihee to the Hawaii State Board of Education and served multiple terms as Vice Chairperson. Sakurai helped to create the BOE’s Committee on Budget and Fiscal Accountability where he redirected hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful spending back to schools. Known as the BOE's “Voice of Reason” during his ten-year tenure Sakurai’s accomplishments include blocking privatization of public schools, stopping class size increases, and negotiating a settlement to the statewide teacher’s strike. Sakurai would also serve as a voting member on the National State Boards of Education Association and National School Boards of Education. In 1996 he was named by the Honolulu Star Bulletin as one of 10 people "Who Would Make a Difference in Hawaii's Future" along with notables such as Governor Ben Cayatano, US Senator Mazi Hirono & US Representative Mark Takai.He “retired” from the BOE to teach History and spent five years as an elementary administrator before becoming principal of Hanalani's Upper School in 2008. During his tenure the school developed a international championship robotics program, national award winning student government, National Honor Society chapter national recognized for service, raising Advanced Placement (AP) passing exam scores & a college readiness program where 100% of graduates are accepted to college.

Listed skills include Public Speaking, Teaching, Curriculum Development, Educational Leadership, and 42 others.