School board
approves Oshiro for
new technology post

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Bringing technology into the classroom will be the job of the newest member of state Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu's leadership team.

The Board of Education yesterday unanimously voted to approve Diana Oshiro the first to head a new state-level division that will fuse school instruction with computer technology.

She was one of several new education leaders introduced yesterday.

Oshiro actually was approved to be assistant superintendent for the Office of Accountability and School Instructional Support -- commonly referred to by its acronym of OASIS.

But OASIS will be merged with part of the office previously headed by Oshiro, the Office of Information and Technology, to become the Division of Learner, Teacher and School Support. Oshiro will head the new division once LeMahieu's pending reorganization plan is accepted by the board.

LeMahieu said the board discussed but put on hold his nominee to head another new division under his reorganization that will combine the current offices that handle personnel and administrative operational matters.

During her five years heading that office, Oshiro has been lauded in bridging curriculum and computer technology.

LeMahieu said Oshiro's new role will combine aspects of her old position with his desire to bring instructional services through standards-based education closer to the schools.

LeMahieu said it's not necessary to have a separate office for computer services because computers are now the tools which students can use to learn.

"Paper and pencil is technology, but we don't have a division of paper and pencil," LeMahieu said. "You need to bring the tools into the organization."

The board also approved LeMahieu's choices of Aiea High School Principal Gary Griffiths to be the new Central Oahu district superintendent and Mililani Mauka Elementary Principal Betty Mow as Central Oahu deputy district superintendent.

The selection of Griffiths and Mow completes the roster of district leadership positions.