MHS’ Indalecio is Teacher of the Year

An educator of Marianas High School, Dr. Roque Castro Indalecio, was hailed yesterday as the 2024-2025 Public School System State Teacher of the Year and will be the Commonwealth’s representative to the prestigious National Teacher of the Year competition next year in the nation’s capital.

Another MHS education professional, Natalie Hill Beyer, was also named the 2024-2025 PSS State Librarian of the Year. This is the third time for Beyer to win the state-level award. She was the overall winner in 2019 and 2018.

Michele Taisacan, also of MHS, is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Online Educator Award.

The announcement of the major PSS awards was one of the many highlights of yesterday’s celebration of the Public School System’s 35 year’s establishment.

The two top PSS leaders—interim commissioner Donna M. Flores and associate commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna—along with Board of Education members led the Education Day Celebration throughout Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

All 20 public elementary, middle, and high schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota held their respective Education Day celebrations yesterday. Flores and Magofna also attended yesterday Tinian and Rota public schools’ celebration.

PSS became an autonomous agency in 1988 by virtue of the enactment of Public Law 6-10 which transformed the Department of Education into an independent government entity governed by an elected BOE.

Student winners

Student competitions on theme and essay writing, and logo design were another highlight in yesterday’s PSS’ 35 Years Education Day Celebration.

Following the announcement of the PSS teacher of the year announcement, Flores and Magofna flew to Rota to join Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior Senior High School principal Annette Calvo and BOE vice chair Herman T. Atalig in announcing the winners for the theme and logo competition winners.

RHI won both competition categories: The winning theme, “Education Ignites the Flame to Success,” was written by Eclair M. Ladao, a 12th grade student; and the logo winner was Mazed Mizan, an 11th grade student.

Separately, PSS key management honored Dandan Middle School to present the award to Koli Tydingco, an 8th grade student, for winning the annual Education Day essay writing contest.

Flores and Magofna also joined Sinapalo Elementary School staff in celebrating PSS Education Day.

Following Rota’s Education Day celebration, the two PSS officials flew to Tinian to join Tinian Elementary School principal Lou Connie Manglona and Tinian Middle School-Tinian High School principal Liz Perzinski in celebrating with their schools’ staff and personnel.

Who is Dr. Indalecio?

Flores asked the CNMI PSS Teacher of the Year coordinator Frankie Camacho to announce the overall winner. Flores also praised Camacho for yet again putting together a successful Teacher of the Year competition.

Four other finalists were also recognized. The other four PSS Teacher of the Year finalists this year are Francis Mendiola of Koblerville Elementary School, Maria Pobeda of Sinapalo Elementary School, Maria Victoria Nishida of Hopwood Middle School, and Sonya-Jane Olopai of Da’ok Academy.

Indalecio is an educator “who imparts his expertise across all high school grade levels (9th-12th), specializing in the subjects of chemistry and environmental science.”

He has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from the Northern Marianas College. Pursued a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, which expanded his repertoire of effective teaching methodologies.

Dr. Indalecio earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Technology from Walden University.

PSS Teacher of the Year doordinator Camacho expressed his appreciation to this year’s judging panel, which was comprised of Jesse Tudela, Board of Regents-NMC; Mildred Sablan-Camacho, CNMI Scholarship-Administrator; Beth Nunez, principal-Grace Christian Academy; Vivian Sablan, Division of Youth Services administrator; and Monique Sablan, board of directors, CNMI Scholarship. (PSS)