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Cara C. Tanimura cara.tanimura@k12.hi.us

EDUCATION

Lewis and Clark School of Law J.D., May 1988, Portland, Oregon

Moot Court Award Recipient – 1985-86

University of Hawaii at Manoa B.A. in English, May 1984, Honolulu, Hawaii

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Hawaii Department of Education, Office of Strategy, Innovation and Performance, Interim Assistant Superintendent

July 2021 – Present • Oversees six branches (Assessment and Accountability; Community Engagement; Communications;

Data Governance and Analysis; Policy, Innovation, Planning and Evaluation; and School Transformation) that provide leadership, strategic planning, and a wide range of services to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements while also striving to meet the needs of the students, schools, complex areas, and community at large

Hawaii Department of Education, Monitoring and Compliance Branch, Director April 2019 – June 2021 • Provided leadership and overall direction to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations and

U.S. Department of Education requirements as it relates to federal education grants • Led and collaborated with state offices, complex areas, and stakeholders to monitor the implementation of the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 • Drafted, reviewed, and approved related state and federal reports, correspondence and other communication

which includes data collection and analysis, budget requests, project proposals, operational expenditure plans, and fiscal accounting

• Responsible for daily and long-term branch operations to improve compliance and performance activities relating to state and federal programs

• Supervised professional and clerical staff members Hawaii Department of Education, Monitoring and Compliance Branch, Administrator September 2017 – March 2019 • Responsible for overseeing the implementation of a statewide, consolidated, and differentiated monitoring

system that ensures compliance with federal and state laws and regulations and US DOE requirements as it relates to educational access, equity, and academic improvement

• Identified Titles I, II, III, and IV program findings and issued corrective action to be implemented at the appropriate office, complex area, school and when applicable, at the Public Charter School Commission

• Served as the Ombudsman and participated in activities required for compliance with federal and state laws and Board of Education policies

• Prepared, reviewed, and approved related state and federal reports, correspondence and other communication which included data collection, budget requests, project proposals, operational expenditure plans and fiscal accounting

• Served as an active member of Department of Education cross functional teams related to improving compliance and performance and participated in monitoring of compliance documents and activities pertaining to state and federal programs

• Supervised professional and clerical staff members

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Hawaii Department of Education, Office of Human Resources, Administrator June 2014 – September 2017 • Directed the classification and compensation systems for civil service, support services and certificated

employees for the Department of Education • Assisted with the development of classification and compensation policies, procedures and guidelines • Managed job audits and ensured positions are properly classified • Developed training modules and created presentations for various audiences • Drafted contracts for professional services relating to classification and compensation and served as the point

of contact for these contracts • Supervised professional and clerical staff members

Hawaii Department of Education, Systems Accountability Office, Director October 2007 – June 2014 • Directed the development, administration and implementation of the statewide large scale student testing

program, comprehensive state and federal accountability system, related reporting systems and program and fiscal evaluations

• Directed the development of policy issues, needs, and educational trends and outcomes of the public school system

• In 2008-09, moved the Department of Education from paper and pencil testing to an online, adaptive system to increase test security while reducing overall costs

• Served as the State Lead for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and participated on webinars, conference calls, task forces and work groups relating to the creation of the next generation large scale assessments

• Served on several departmental work groups and subcommittees relating to student data to protect confidentiality of records and other personal information

• Made presentations at national conferences as well as to the Superintendent’s Leadership Team, Complex Area teams, Board of Education, Legislature, higher education groups, other educational agencies and various business partners

• Drafted complex contracts for services relating to assessments, surveys and other critical areas, as needed • Organized the personnel and fiscal resources of the office to maximize accomplishment of assigned programs,

projects and activities while maintaining high quality and staff commitment • Supervised professional and clerical staff members Hawaii Department of Education, Systems Accountability Office, System Planning and Improvement Section, Administrator January 2004 - October 2007

• Supervised and coordinated work activities for the Section, as well as project teams comprised of personnel

from other units within the Department • Developed specifications of project assignments, including objectives, measures of effectiveness, target groups,

methodologies, schedules and resource requirements • Redesigned the Superintendent’s Annual Report to a user friendly format that incorporated graphics, charts,

tables, and narratives to provide the public as well as researchers with critical information • Designed the department-wide program and fiscal evaluation reports to ensure a balance of auditing features as

well as actionable recommendations for improving educational programs Hawaii State Board of Education, Analyst January 1998 – January 2004 • Researched and analyzed laws, regulations, policies and issues for the Board of Education members • Attended all Board of Education committee and general business meetings to provide members with guidance • Drafted committee and general business meeting minutes as well as policies, memos and correspondence

relating to educational issues

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Hawaii State House of Representatives, House Majority Staff Office, Legislative Attorney January 1993 - January 1998 • Drafted bills, resolutions, committee reports, certificates, speeches and memoranda for the House majority

members • Attended House and Conference Committee hearings • Assisted with new legislative staff training • Organized and coordinated various briefings, including neighbor island site visits and hearings

Kidani-Crudele, Associate Attorney September 1991 – January 1993

• Provided a full range of legal services for clients • Drafted various documents and correspondence for submittal to legal counsel and the court • Prepared witnesses and assisted with litigation proceedings Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Volunteer Legal Assistant January 1989 – August 1991 Upstate NY Federal Credit Union, Teller January 1989 – July 1991

ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Blood Bank of Hawaii, Donor January 2006 – Present • Donates blood every eight weeks Hawaii Government Employees Association, Managerial and Confidential Employees Chapter, Board Member January 2015 – Present

• Serves on the Managerial and Confidential Employees Chapter Board as the Department of Education

representative to ensure that excluded employees receive all the rights and benefits as a government employee

People Attentive to Children (PATCH), Board Member April 2016 – Present • Serves on the Board of Directors and as a member on the Executive and Finance Committees