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PSS turns to Minnesota to fill teacher void
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Posted on Nov 14 2006
Human resource officers of the Public School System who are currently in Minnesota for a training will be recruiting prospective teachers from the state to maximize their stay.
PSS Human Resource officer Ramon Diaz and director Charlie Kenty will be distributing brochures and other related materials about the CNMI and its State Board of Education to teachers who may be interested in relocating here. The move seeks to resolve the shortage of teachers for this and the next school year.
Education Commissioner David M. Borja confirmed yesterday that Diaz, Kenty and other PSS staff flew to Minnesota on Sunday for the weeklong training. PSS director of finance Richard Waldo also joined the training. The training is federally funded. It is intended for both Finance and HR officers in education systems across the nation, said Borja.
He said that PSS officials are just using the opportunity to promote the island through their recruitment activities while they’re on training. Since there are students in that state who are graduating next month, it would be an opportune time to introduce the Commonwealth as a prospective jobsite, Borja said.
“Since it’s cold there now, we are enticing them to come to a tropical and warm island to teach,” Borja said.
He said the CNMI team would visit at least six colleges, universities and other schools of education.
Borja said there are PSS teachers in the CNMI who are from Minnesota. There are currently 506 full time teachers in the CNMI.
In July this year, the PSS extended its recruitment of teachers to the neighboring island of Guam to fill up the positions that were vacated last school term. The Central Office has hired two teachers from Guam who were immediately deployed to public schools on Tinian. Borja said the Tinian elementary and high schools currently need more educators.
