PSS honors 37 private, public partners of co-op program on Saipan for accepting 123 HS interns

Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho and Cooperative Education Program coordinator Brandon Nicholas led the school district in honoring long-standing private and government sector partners that ensured the co-op program’s decades of continuous implementation and support to public high school students.

In the Commonwealth, the Cooperative Education Program, referred to as co-op program, was pioneered on Saipan as a school-based program by the oldest public high school: Marianas High School, in 1971. It has grown and became a district-wide program during school year 2013-2014, with PSS expanding its intent, which integrates classroom instruction with supervised on-the-job training, to include all public high schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

The co-op program consists of both cooperative education, which occurs on-campus, and cooperative training, which occurs off campus. By participating in off-campus job training, co-op students will be able to apply classroom concepts through real-life, experiential learning.

During PSS’ decision to implement it as a district-wide initiative, the number of private businesses and government agencies and departments signing up as partners increased. The co-op program became one of the single largest sources for employment training for public high school students.

The PSS Cooperative Education Program is federally funded.

Benefits

On Thursday, May 16, Camacho revealed to the 123 high school co-op students on Saipan he was also a beneficiary of the program.

“I was once like you are now: I worked through all day, and it opened up opportunities for me,” Camacho said during the PSS Cooperative Education Program Partners Appreciation last Thursday.

“I was a bagger boy, a gas attendant, worked as an intern at the former Nikko Hotel, and moved to Duty Free Shoppers as an inventory staff—all these because I benefited the intent of being a Cooperative Education Program student during my high school years,” said Camacho.

He added:” This was a time when employers opened doors for me to step into this world of employment while I was still in high school. I was combining my academics and development with the workforce experience. And the people that I was working with were coaching and guiding me, mentoring me. All these were very valuable to me, and our co-op program made it happen.”

Camacho praised the 37 private companies and government departments and agencies for “adding value” to the learning experience of public high school students.

“Thank you partners for helping us make it happen to our public school students—the children of the CNMI. Thank you for being part of the students’ learning process, for adding value to their education life by letting them experience early how it is to be part of the workforce sector.”

Partners

Held at Kensington Hotel, PSS through Camacho and Nicholas said 37 private companies and government agencies and departments on Saipan made it happen for the 123 public high school students.

Camacho and the co-op program coordinator tendered a luncheon and presented the 37 private and government partners with a special plaque of recognition. They are: 500 Sails/ 500 Sails Boatyard, American Memorial Park, Cha Cafe & Bistro, Commonwealth Cancer Association, Commonwealth Law revision Commission, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Coral Ocean Golf Resort, Delta Management—Shell Marianas, Department of Public Safety, Gold’s Gym, Hafa Adai Roasting Company, Herman’s Modern Bakery, Hyatt Regency Saipan, IT&E-CNMI, Java Joe’s, Joeten Enterprises, Karidat Social Service, Kensington Hotel, Koblerville Elementary School, Latte Built Fitness, LP Accounting, Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, Northern Marianas Housing Corp., Pacific Islands Club, Pacifica Insurance, Paradise Dental Spa, PHI Pharmacy, Plumeria Steakhouse/Ete Café, Law Office of Robert T. Torres, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Saipan Southern High School, Saipan World Resort, Salt and Barber LLC, Tasi to Table, and Torres Refrigeration Inc.

Record-breaking

Nicholas said this year is a record-breaking semester for the program.

“We have a full venue, and this is not by accident. Today we celebrate the end of a record-breaking semester for the co-op program. Roughly over 120 students train at over 35 private and public sector companies and agencies on just the island of Saipan. If we include our neighboring islands of Rota and Tinian, our numbers jump to over 200 + students at on-the-job training and over 70 different training sites. This is a win for our islands and a win that we can all celebrate together,” Nicholas said.

“(W)ith more students come the possibilities of more successes and, of course, more challenges. I am extremely grateful to have a strong team of teachers that handle the front lines at our schools and do everything they can to ensure that each of our students do their hours, submit their documents and get paid. We’re more than a class, and these professionals exemplify what it means to go above and beyond,” he added.

Nicholas expressed his program’s appreciation to the “foundation of the program”—classroom teachers who continually made it happen: Andrew Golden of Saipan Southern High School, Fred Salavaria of Kagman High School, Kristina Torres and Eun Benavente and Christine Acbo of Marianas High School, Joan Torres of Da’ok Academy, and Susan Pajarillaga from Grace Christian Academy.

“I often pride myself on telling our students during my initial visit that there are always more co-op jobs than there are students, but I don’t think I was going to be able to use that catchphrase this time around. Fast-forward to now, and we have industry professionals from over 35 public and private companies and agencies present to celebrate another successful semester of partnership. Thank you!” (PR)