PSS has no one to blame but itself

This is in response to the recent legislation passed in the CNMI House of Representatives allowing non-U.S. certified SPED personnel to work in the Public School System. Having taught Special Education in the CNMI schools for more than seven years it does not surprise me that PSS is having a hard time filling and keeping SPED positions filled. It became apparent to me in November 2003 that PSS does not want U.S. certified SPED personnel who know what they are doing, understand the law, and are advocates for their students. I was notified that my contract would not be renewed while I was on Workers Compensation after having surgery from an injury at school. This in itself was a violation of U.S. Federal Workers Compensation Law, yet PSS refused to acknowledge the issue. My principal informed me that he did not have to give me a reason to let me go. When contacted, neither PSS, the Commissioner of Education, nor the Board of Education would address the fact that one of the few highly qualified SPED teachers in the CNMI would not be renewed (I am certified highly qualified by NCLB standards).

PSS is having the troubles it is having now because of the way it treats its teachers and its own policies. PSS officials have no one to blame but themselves. I know of more than five highly qualified SPED teachers and related services personnel who have left the CNMI PSS because of the PSS’ system, not because they didn’t want to teach in the CNMI. They refused to kiss where the sun doesn’t shine. PSS and the BOE need to look closely at their policies concerning the retention of personnel because they don’t have any. Case in point: My principal had no just cause to not rehire me. When I left the CNMI, my SPED students had achieved a lot, they had the skills needed to succeed in the workplace, and a greater percentage of them were employed and had been employed since graduating than the percentage of general education students who graduated with them. Sad but true.

A friend of mine just returned to Hawaii after teaching a short time in the CNMI. His stories parallel those I’ve heard of before. They don’t want good teachers; they want teachers who are good at kissing up to the principal, he stated in our last conversation. After talking with him, my heart hurt for those SPED students in the CNMI, and still does. I love the CNMI and the people of Rota. But, because PSS and BOE refuse to address the real problems in the schools and with their unqualified principals whose decisions are often unwarranted and personally motivated, the CNMI PSS will continue to falter. The students will continue to receive a second-rate education. And the hiring and retention of quality SPED personnel will continue to be a problem. Legislation lowering the standards of hiring policies will not solve the problem. I think it is time that PSS look at the quality and hiring practices of their administrators and administrative personnel before action is taken to lower the standards of teachers and related services personnel like they have for principals.

Ted Seaman
Kau, Hawaii