HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Bryan Silver, a science and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Kalani High School, has been honored as the 2025 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year, as announced by the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE). Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Silver received the award from Governor Josh Green and Superintendent Keith Hayashi during a ceremony at Washington Place on Monday. This prestigious recognition is given annually to a classroom teacher selected from over 13,000 HIDOE educators. Silver was chosen from a group of 15 Complex Area Teachers of the Year and the Charter School Teacher of the Year. “Thank you, teachers, for setting the standard,” Gov. Green said during the event. “We’re grateful that you stayed in education. Mahalo for all your work and for caring for our keiki.” Superintendent Hayashi praised Silver's contributions, stating, “Bryan is a leader in CTE Engineering and robotics on both local and national stages. His initiatives have transformed Kalani High School into a hub for STEM education across Hawaii.” With 24 years of teaching experience in the Honolulu School District, Silver has demonstrated a strong commitment to his students and the field of STEM. He recently became the first Hawaii recipient of the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, earning $50,000 for Kalani's robotics program. Silver teaches four levels of engineering classes and manages multiple after-school robotics programs. Hawaii voters to receive General Election ballots by October 18 Since starting at Kalani in 2002, Silver has helped establish robotics programs statewide, significantly increasing the number of LEGO FIRST robotics teams. He has secured $283,000 in grants for his award-winning Team Magma 3008 and developed student-run businesses to sustain the program financially. This past summer, he volunteered with Teachers Across Borders South Africa, conducting STEM robotics workshops for 600 teachers. Silver has created the Engineering CTE course at Kalani, leading many students to pursue scholarships and careers in STEM. He also spearheaded the Innovation Station, a mobile classroom equipped with advanced technology for students across Oahu. His accolades include the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the Albert Einstein Educator Fellowship Award. In his acceptance speech, Silver expressed gratitude for his family and fellow educators, stating, “Teaching is never a solo journey... We are part of a larger community that supports and uplifts each other.” Silver will represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program, with the national winner to be announced this spring in Washington, D.C. As part of the recognition, monetary awards were provided to each Complex Area and Public Charter School Teacher of the Year, and Silver received a one-year lease of a 2024 Nissan Sentra SV from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Honorees Other finalists honored include: Leah ʻAiwohi, Kauaʻi High Ian Cablay, Waialua High Tennelle Clark, Waiʻanae Elementary Lauren Collier, Kāneʻohe Elementary Robin Cone-Murakami Barros, SEEQS Leah Gouker, Pāhoa High Nicole Laeha, Kailua Intermediate Karla “Viviana” Martinez, Konawaena High Jessie O'Neill-Prest, Kīhei Elementary Jaime “Kumu Eva” Palakiko, Lahainaluna High Jonathan Peralto, Waiākea Intermediate Jennifer Sato, Kūhiō Elementary Erin Takamura-Luu, Red Hill Elementary Sherry Tenn, Waipahu High Kim Virtudazo, Campbell High