Ed Noh, a complex area superintendent at the state education department, was appointed as executive director of the Hawai‘i State Public Charter School Commission on Tuesday.
The commission hasn’t had a permanent executive director since 2020 after Sione Thompson stepped down to pursue a job as the Department of Education’s complex area superintendent for the Nānākuli-Waiʻanae area. Yvonne Lau and PJ Foehr served as interim executive directors.
Noh, who will start in mid-February, has a total of 30 years of experience. He currently works for the Castle-Kahuku complex area, overseeing 16 schools with over 7,400 students.
He also served as school director of Kaʻōhao Public Charter School, achieving an elementary school ranking, annual enrollment growth and a balanced budget while introducing new classroom technologies.
“As a practitioner, parent, and administrative leader, his passion for education and proven leadership skills make him the ideal candidate to lead the commission forward,” Chair Cathy Ikeda said in a news release. "This role is the culmination of his career, and we look forward to working collaboratively with Ed to advocate for high-quality education in Hawaiʻi’s public charter schools.”
Noh has a doctorate in professional educational practice from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington.
He spearheaded initiatives such as the leadership pipeline, teaching innovation grants and innovative teaching strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noh was chosen from a pool of 30 finalists nationwide.
The commission is a nine-member panel that oversees 37 charter schools of more than 12,000 students. They’re tasked with approving applications for new charter schools and monitoring the schools' academic performance and financial compliance.
