PSS honors 43 students, 20 teachers for Acheive3000 use, reading growth

The Public School System last May 9 honored 43 elementary, middle, and high school students who have demonstrated outstanding literacy gains through the Achieve3000 Literacy Program, a globally recognized digital supplemental learning program that helps students improve their reading and comprehension skills.

PSS also recognized 20 classroom teachers for their dedication and consistency in implementing Achieve 3000 in their instruction.

A Lexile level is a common method used by schools to measure a student’s reading ability. The CNMI PSS strives for all students to be at or above grade level in reading comprehension.

At the Literacy Celebration event, State Board of Education secretary/treasurer Gregory P. Borja and PSS Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho congratulated the students and teacher awardees. Both education leaders expressed their appreciation to Achieve 3000 officials for their continued partnership and support.

Borja and Camacho credited the students and teachers hard work and achievements. The education leaders also lauded the support and partnership the awardees have received at home and at school.

Joining PSS officials in honoring students and teachers in the Marianas High School cafeteria on Thursday were visiting officials of the McGraw Hill/International Achieve3000 Programs: Patrick Staley, senior director for product and professional services, and Julie Eckard, director for business development. Parents, school officials, other educators and community members also witnessed the celebration.

Staley shared, “We are thrilled to continue our journey with CNMI PSS and celebrate another year of student and teacher success. I had the honor of sharing data with the community that saw reading scores improve 66% over a three-year period for students using Achieve3000. Our mission is to accelerate learning and there is no better example of that than right here in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”

Eckard stated, “Congratulations students on another year of amazing reading gains. Achieve3000 is honored to continue partnering with the CNMI PSS. Year after year, we are so impressed with the department, administrators and teachers always putting Students First.”

Achieve3000 is a globally recognized provider of “differentiated instruction and learning acceleration” in the U.S. and 49 other countries.

In the CNMI, public and private schools use Achieve3000 to aid student achievement and success, particularly in reading.

The federal Every Students Succeeds Act, for its part, recognizes Achieve3000 “for demonstrating strong evidence of efficacy based on results from third-party randomized controlled trial study.”

Awardees

The 43 students who were recognized for their top Lexile growth from their schools based on and Achieve3000:

• Garapan Elementary School — Jhon Joseph Salas and Austin Soter Bell

• GTC Elementary School — Lazarus Augustus Moses and Rudith Laluna Camacho

• Kagman Elementary School — Oston Gregory Naputi and Chanel Marie Siruelo

• Koblerville Elementary School — Nevaeh Josie Kateri Cabrera and Suhana Miah

• Oleai Elementary School — Maia Borja and Floreigh Jane Lanoy

• San Vicente Elementary School — Kimberly Lacsina and Jeffrey James Pangelinan

• Sinapalo Elementary School — Ge’selle Estefania Barcinas and Titus Feolino

• Tinian Elementary School — Rickson Quenzy Manglona and Jay Junior San Nicolas

• William S. Reyes Elementary School — Zion Ray Camacho and Hafsa Rahaman

• Hopwood Middle School — Dynno Markel Rivera and Kyla Macabanti

• Chacha Oceanview Middle School — Payton Thomas Pangelinan and Tiana Therese Norita

• Dandan Middle School — Normaine Nate and Ciara Alyssa Villagomez

• Francisco M. Sablan Middle School — Boyu Zhou and Jhon Albert Dilao

• Tanapag Middle School — Malayah Elloisa Loma and BJ Belocora

• Da’ok Academy — Renato Abubo and Tayshawna Rose Lieto

• Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School — Jevin Nerizon (High School), Arafat Sikder (High School), Naysha Teree Barcinas (Junior High) and Hailey Sage Manglona (Junior High)

• Kagman High School — Preston Joel Ngiramos and Elle Brie Tudela

• Marianas High School — Joshua Kim and Md. Molla

• Saipan Southern High School — Jasmine Kyle Saluta and Leidy Audry Fhaye Agacoscos

• Tinian Middle & High School — Justice Aldan (High School), Yuan Xiao (High School), and Si Jie Sarah Lin (Middle School)

The classroom teachers honored for their excellence of program use are the following: John Aldrich (Garapan Elementary School); Deborah Moore (GTC Elementary School); Celestial Jewel Dela Cruz (Kagman Elementary School); Angela Ruiz (Koblerville Elementary School); Alberta Aldan (Oleai Elementary School); Yvette Tenorio (San Vicente Elementary School); Enterina Calvo (Sinapalo Elementary School); Jenina Manglona (Tinian Elementary School); Ilyssa Geronimo (WSR Elementary School); Kimberly Palacios (Hopwood Middle School); Peter Mesngon (Chacha Oceanview Middle School); Edinna Cepeda(Dandan Middle School); Imelda Bautista (Francisco M. Sablan Middle School); Jane Babauta (Tanapag Middle School); Mercedes Deleon Guerrero (Da’ok Academy); Deseriee Pendergrass (Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School); Leslie Rodolfo (Kagman High School); Leilani Iramk (Marianas High School); Michelle Rasa (Saipan Southern High School); and Kevin Pangelinan (Tinian Middle and High School). (PR)