Saipan Tribune

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Deleon Guerrero leads GTC education awardees

Editor's Note: This story is part of a series of articles that Saipan Tribune is publishing in support of the celebration of Education Month by the Public School System.

Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School has named Patricia Deleon Guerrero as its Teacher of the Year awardee this year. She will now vie for the Public School System-wide search for the overall Teacher of the Year. The competition also seeks winners for the CNMI PSS teacher aide of the year, support staff of the year, counselor of the year, and librarian of the year.

Deleon Guerrero obtained her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the Northern Marianas College in 2008. A few months after, she joined GTC and has since then been a proud member of the Binadu family. Last April, she obtained her master's degree from Framingham State University.

The 27-year-old Deleon Guerrero is a second grade teacher who attends to 19 students in her class daily.

“Since I was a young girl, I've been so amazed with teaching. I always play school with my siblings and right then and there, I knew that I would become a teacher someday because I like working with kids and it really interests me to watch them grow, develop, and progress into young individuals,” she told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

GTC principal Charlotte Camacho said that Deleon Guerrero's commitment and dedication to GTC and her students is evident in her involvement. She described her as “caring, knowledgeable, energetic, and passionate,” with a positive attitude toward teaching and learning.

Deleon Guerrero integrates art, plays and skits, music, and physical activities into her lessons. She is a member of the school's leadership team and accreditation, mentor for the NMC Student Teacher Program, the school's representative to the Science Learning Community, and coordinator for the school level science fair.

Other awardees

GTC's Teacher Aide of the Year for 2012 is Spencer Marchadesch, who is with the school's special education program. Marchadesch has been with GTC for four years since 2009. He also performs other duties including Boys Scout coordinator for the school; coach for basketball, soccer, and track and field; assists in maintenance and other duties; and helps in school programs such as the Parade of Books.

Named Support Staff of the Year is Gloria Nauta, the school's administrative staff for four years now. Nauta was described by her principal as a team player and with the initiative to help anyone in need. She was chosen for her consistently satisfactory attendance, work ethic, and dependability.

GTC conferred this year's Librarian of the Year award on Corazon San Nicolas, who has been with the school for five years. Not only is she responsible for ensuring that all students have access to the library and know how to choose books appropriate to their reading level, she is also GTC's representative to the Librarian's Learning Community and a member of the school's Response Intervention Team.

The school's Counselor of the Year is Amparo Q. Camacho, who has been with the school for four years. She was described by her principal as “dependable, reliable, responsible, and a leader.”