Innovative Castle High School principal Meredith Maeda has been named Hawai'i's high school principal of the year for 2008 by MetLife /National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Department of Education announced today.

Maeda was cited for raising student achievement, improving the quality of teaching and instruction, creating community and educational partnerships, and increasing parent and volunteer participation in his nine years as Castle's principal.

Principals of the year representing 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity will be honored at an awards banquet later this year in Washington, D.C.

State Education Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said Maeda's leadership "...has made a difference in the lives of thousands of students, staff and community. He has inspired change and transformed Castle High by creating a cohesive community of learners."

During his tenure at Castle, Maeda has initiated 15 focus groups and a systematic process to address and solve key issues at the school.

One group investigated and evaluated different bell schedules that maximize student learning and teaching development. Recently, a new seven-period schedule was approved by the staff and school community council, and accepted by the Hawai'i State Board of Education.

Another focus group achieved significant gains in reading. The use of research-based and team-teaching strategies have steadily increased proficiency scores at the school over the past three years by 29 percent.

Maeda also implemented four career pathways — business, health services, public and human services, and industrial and engineering technologies — to increase learning by connecting students' knowledge to real-life applications. By 2009, Castle's curriculum will include two additional pathways: arts and communication/natural resources.

Castle/Kahuku Complex Area Superintendent Lea Albert said Maeda inherited a school in dire need of effective organizational structures, a culture that focused first on meeting the needs of students, and systems for ensuring student achievement and support.

"His skills as a facilitative leader have fostered the collaboration and articulation necessary to move this large school forward," Albert said.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Maeda has mentored or trained hundreds of administrators and teachers, served as the de facto leader in organizing complex-wide workshops and implemented the Castle Complex Curriculum Alignment Project. He is president of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and Hawai'i High School Athletic Association.