ALISA A. E. BENDER
Aiea
Summary
Strategic education leader with 20 years in the Hawai'i State Department of Education, driving initiatives that enhance school performance and operational effectiveness. Expertise in advising senior leaders, preparing executive briefings, and facilitating communication across departments to support Board of Education readiness. Known for strengthening leadership systems and implementing statewide initiatives impacting over 180,000 students and 13,000 employees. Core strengths include executive coordination, operational strategy, and crisis response leadership.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal-in-Residence
Leadership Institute
07.2022 - Current
- Led statewide leadership role supporting executive initiatives, leadership development systems, and coordination between school leaders and central office.
- Advised senior leadership on statewide leadership initiatives and implementation challenges impacting school operations and outcomes.
- Facilitated communication between school leaders and central office to identify operational barriers, enhancing responsiveness and collaboration.
- Designed and implemented the State Leading and Learning (SLL) leadership development initiative to strengthen leadership capacity among state and district administrators responsible for program and operational oversight.
- Redesigned the statewide Principals Forum, improving alignment between school leaders and central office priorities.
- Co-developed the Principals Advisory Council to the Superintendent, creating a formal system for school leader input into policy development and operational decision-making.
- Contributed to cross-department coordination efforts following the Maui wildfires, supporting leadership communication and field response efforts recognized by the department as the 2024 HIDOE Team of the Year.
- Hawai'i State Department of Education
Principal
Aiea Intermediate School
01.2021 - 06.2022
- Led a public middle school with 462 students and over 80 staff as the chief executive leader.
- Directed school operations including staffing, budgeting, facilities coordination, and program implementation.
- Implemented operational systems enhancing academic improvement and student support services.
- Led faculty implementation of targeted instructional strategies addressing pandemic-related learning loss.
- Analyzed student performance data to inform program adjustments and drive academic outcomes.
- Expanded collaboration with military partners, community organizations, and families to enhance coordination of services supporting student success.
- Hawai'i Department of Education
Interim Assistant Superintendent
Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Provided executive leadership for statewide instructional systems serving 180,000 students and 257 public schools.
- Coordinated department's Return-to-Learn strategy during COVID-19, aligning instructional programs and technology access to enhance communication with schools statewide.
- Facilitated cross-office collaboration to ensure continuity of instruction and operational support during rapid system transitions.
- Supported implementation of the department's Strategic Plan 2030, aligning programs and accountability measures across offices.
- Established performance indicators to monitor program effectiveness, guiding executive decision-making.
- Prepared briefing materials and program updates to facilitate leadership communication with internal and external stakeholders.
- Hawai'i Department of Education
Principal
Hickam Elementary School
11.2015 - 12.2019
- Led K-6 school as chief executive for large military-connected student population, fostering an inclusive educational environment.
- Led schoolwide improvement efforts resulting in designation as a National Blue Ribbon School.
- Built a high-performing instructional culture through professional development, performance monitoring, and staff leadership development.
- Oversaw school operations, ensuring effective personnel management, budget allocation, facility coordination, and student support services.
- Strengthened collaboration with military leadership and community partners, enhancing resources and support for students and families.
- Hawaii Department of Education
Education
Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership -
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Master of Education - Educational Leadership
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Professional School Administrator License -
State of Hawai'i
Skills
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning
- Change management
- Program evaluation
- Policy writing
- Data analysis
- Leadership development
Selected Leadership Achievements
- Strengthened Statewide Leadership Coordination: Redesigned the Hawai'i DOE Principals Forum, creating a structured statewide engagement model that improved communication between central office leadership and school principals and elevated field input on system initiatives and operational challenges.
- Built a State Leadership Development Pipeline: Designed and launched the State Leading and Learning (SLL) initiative to develop leadership capacity among central office and district administrators responsible for policy, programs, and operational systems supporting Hawai'i's 257 public schools.
- Established Executive Feedback Structures: Co-developed the Principals Advisory Council to the Superintendent, institutionalizing principal input into statewide policy and operational decision-making and strengthening communication between school leaders and system leadership.
- Led System Coordination During Crisis Response: Contributed to cross-department coordination and leadership communication during the Maui wildfire crisis, supporting operational response and school recovery efforts requiring rapid alignment across state offices and community partners.
- Directed Statewide Transition to Distance Learning: As Interim Assistant Superintendent, helped coordinate the department's Return-to-Learn strategy during COVID-19, supporting the rapid transition of more than 180,000 students and 13,000 employees to distance learning through cross-office collaboration.
- Delivered Nationally Recognized School Improvement: Led Hickam Elementary through a comprehensive school improvement effort that resulted in designation as a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School and recognition with the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership.
- Strengthened Operational Systems at the School Level: Directed operational and instructional systems for schools serving diverse communities, improving coordination across staffing, budgeting, facilities, and student support programs while maintaining a focus on measurable academic improvement.
Websites
Honors And Recognition
- Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership, U.S. Department of Education (2019)
- National Blue Ribbon School, U.S. Department of Education (2019)
- Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award (2019)
- Mark Takai Outstanding Civilian Contributor Award, Joint Venture Education Forum (2019)
- Leeward District Teacher of the Year, Hawai'i Department of Education (2011)
Core Executive Capabilities
Facilitate collaboration across major operational offices to ensure initiatives are aligned with department priorities, implemented effectively, and responsive to school-level needs., Support preparation of executive briefings, testimony, and strategic updates for senior leadership, the Board of Education, and legislative stakeholders., Strengthen processes for tracking initiatives, identifying implementation barriers, and ensuring accountability across multiple offices and programs., Coordinate work across operational and instructional divisions to reduce silos, improve communication, and ensure effective delivery of services to schools., Provide leadership support during large-scale system challenges requiring rapid coordination across departments and external partners.
Timeline
Principal-in-Residence
Leadership Institute
07.2022 - Current
Principal
Aiea Intermediate School
01.2021 - 06.2022
Interim Assistant Superintendent
Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design
01.2020 - 12.2020
Principal
Hickam Elementary School
11.2015 - 12.2019
Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership -
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Master of Education - Educational Leadership
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Professional School Administrator License -
State of Hawai'i