Catherine Payne is a retired educator whose career has spanned over 35 years. She most recently came out of retirement to temporarily fill in as the Interim Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area Superintendent. Prior to retiring, Board Chairperson Payne served as the principal of Farrington High School. Board Chairperson Payne was the recipient of the National Milken Educator Award. She also won the Principal of the Year Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals for her work with incarcerated students at the alternative Olomana School. Board Chairperson Payne has served on numerous education boards, including the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board, Education Institute of Hawai'i, Adult Friends for Youth, and the State Public Charter School Commission as chairperson. She received her Bachelor of Education degree in Secondary English and her Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Board Chairperson Payne's term runs from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.