FOCUS ON EDUCATION The Marianas High School Teacher Academy

On Thursday evening May 20th, I was a proud guest at the Recognition Banquet sponsored by the Marianas High School Teacher Academy held at the Diamond Hotel. Sitting next to Dr. Rita H. Inos and Governor Pedro P. Tenorio, I glanced across the ballroom filled with 41 proud students of the Teacher Academy along with their parents and teacher mentors of the students. It was a magnificent scene.

I was especially impressed because I was witnessing a truly joint effort among the PSS, the parents, students and teachers-all focusing together to encourage young people to become teachers in the CNMI. Presently out of 400 teachers in the system only 95 are local descent. So the need is dramatic.

Students in the Academy are encouraged by role modeling, enthusiasm, expertise, and by “hands on” experience in which the students actually do “student teaching” in the various schools. In this manner they learn what the profession of teaching entails.

The Teacher Academy, a two year program, is the offspring of the Exploring Education class that has been offered at MHS for the past six years. There are two groups: Exploring Education I composed of juniors and Exploring II made up of seniors. Each senior student in the Teacher Academy has a MHS faculty mentor. Activities such as luncheon and coffee meetings are arranged for strengthening that relationship. Annually an induction ceremony and a recognition banquet are given which include the students, mentors and parents.

The criteria for the Teacher Academy demands excellent students who will be a credit to their parents, families and their islands. The applicants must be US citizens or nationals, domiciled in the CNMI. They must maintain a 3.0 accumulative grade point, be in the higher English classes, express a love of children and a willingness to work with them. The Teacher Academy instructor is Mrs. Joan Kani and her committed aide Velma del Rosario.

Currently there are 41 students enrolled in the Teacher Academy There is a smaller similar program on Tinian and Rota. Twenty-one of the students will be graduating this year. Eighteen will be attending colleges for teacher education at schools such as University of Hawaii in Hilo, Hawaii; Grand Canyon University, Phoenix,
Arizona; or University of Guam. Three students will be attending NMC in Saipan.

The fruits of the Teacher Academy are beginning to show results. This past year three former students of the Academy have been teaching in our local schools. They are the first to return. This August, seven more former Teacher Academy students will be returning with their B.S. degrees to assume teaching positions in the PSS. It is anticipated that approximately ten students are scheduled to return each summer to teach and add to our pool of local teachers.

A special mention must be made about the devoted and unselfish Joan Kani, who has given her time and extra effort to make this Teacher Academy a success. Her belief in the potential of these students has been truly a love of teaching. Her role model has been an inspiration to everyone who has come in contact with her smiling face and dedication. With fondness the students refer to her as the “mother hen.” Thank you, Joan, for leading the way.

And a special thanks must go to all the other teachers at MHS who so willingly act as student mentors. We should also give a standing ovation to the parents who have given so much love and attention to raising such fine and outstanding young people.

As the great Catholic theologian Saint Augustine wrote: “Teaching is the greatest act of Charity…. Learning is facilitated by love.” I saw that act demonstrated on Thursday May 20, 1999.

Strictly a personal view. Anthony Pellegrino is a businessman and member of the Board of Education.