WSR teacher Okawa retires after 31 years of PSS service
The 8th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council has adopted a resolution commending Antonia Aguon Camacho Okawa for her exemplary contribution to the Public School System at William S. Reyes Elementary School. Okawa retired after 31 years of active duty at the school.
Okawa is the daughter of Rafael Daiz and Mrs. Tomasa Aguon Camacho (both deceased). She is married to Ryo Okawa of Aomari, Japan, and they have three children: Chamie, Lanelle and Ray.
Okawa graduated from Hopwood Junior-Senior High School on June 7, 1968. She received her associated degree in elementary education at the Northern Marianas College and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Guam. Following high school graduation, Okawa began her government employment with the Public School System as a 4th grade classroom teacher at Chalan Kanoa elementary school and a teacher for special education (deaf) until 1975.
After an eight-year break from teaching due to family reasons, Okawa returned in July 1983 and became a special language clinician at the Commonwealth Health Center. Okawa returned to William S. Reyes school in September 1985 as a 1st grade teacher. In August 1990, she moved to William S. Reyes Elementary School as a kindergarten teacher until her retirement.
Okawa is a recipient of several distinctions: Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, 1991-1992; member, William S. Reyes mathematics task force, 1991-1992; William S. Reyes School teacher of the year, 1998; WSR accreditation steering committee and Chamorro bilingual task force, 1996-1998; chair, Parent Community Self Study Report Accreditation, 1997-1998; treasurer, WSR Parent-Teacher Association, 1997-1998; member, WSR planning committee and language arts task force for students and benchmark, 1998-1999; and is listed in the recent issue on the Who’s Who in America.
“The members of the municipal council and the people of the CNMI are extremely proud of…Okawa for her exemplary contributions and services to [PSS] and the people of the CNMI and wish her continued success upon her retirement from government active duty,” part of the resolution reads.
The resolution was certified by municipal council chair Gregorio v. Deleon Guerrero and vice chair David A. Indalecio and attested by secretary Antonia M. Tudela.
