Head Start Center renamed to honor former director

To honor Joaquina M. Rabauliman’s 37 years of service to the Head Start Program, the Board of Education has renamed the Garapan/Chinatown Head Start Center to the Joaquina M. Rabauliman Head Start Center.

The BOE also adopted a resolution honoring the former Head Start director’s commitment to educating formative minds in its meeting on June 30 at its office on Capital Hill.

Rabauliman will be presented the resolution in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renamed Head Start Center.

Also known as Kinai, Rabauliman was born on March 15, 1933, and attended both Chalan Kanoa Elementary School and Hopwood Junior High School. She expanded her education and training throughout the Micronesian region, a move that was unheard of in the post-war era.

Upon her graduation from the Pacific Islands Teacher Training School in Chuuk, she returned to Saipan and began her long and distinguished career in education.

Rabauliman was a primary grade teacher for the Mariana Islands Department of Education from 1951-1956 before dedicating her remaining 22 years of service to focus on what would eventually become the CNMI Head Start Program.

From 1966 to 1968, she was the Mariana Islands Community Action Agency Head Start Center supervisor. As a result of her exemplary service she was then promoted to CAA Head Start Child Development assistant director from 1969 to 1970. Through hard work, determination, and perseverance, she was once again promoted to the CAA Head Start, which she served with distinction and honor from 1970 to 1984.

It was in 1984 when CAA Head Start was transitioned to the Mariana Islands Head Start Program and Rabauliman was named the first Mariana Islands Head Start program director until her retirement in 1988.

According to the Education Board, Rabauliman is a passionate advocate of both education and community as is evidenced “by her admirable and tireless work as she volunteered her services to the parent teacher associations” in San Roque, Tanapag, and Oleai elementary schools.

She also served countless community service committees and organizations.

The board said that even after her service to the PSS, Rabauliman continued to serve her community by using her passion for reason, fairness, and wisdom in providing counsel to family and community members seeking advice.

“Kinai is a resolute example of a product of the public education system who came back to serve PSS diligently and generously,” added the board.