Lee is named VFW’s Teacher of the Year

Damiana Lee, third from the left, poses with her family as she receives the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Teacher of the Year award last Monday at VFW Post 3457 in Garapan. (Contributed Photo)

The Veterans of Foreign Wars 3475 Post, which has its own Teacher of the Year award to recognize teachers for teaching Americanism and patriotism, recognized last Dec. 16 a fifth-grade teacher from Koblerville Elementary School as its overall winner of the award, topping two other teachers who were up for the honor.

VFW 3475 Post gave its Teacher of the Year award to Damiana Lee, who will be the second teacher from the CNMI to represent the Asia-Pacific region in Washington, D.C. at the VFW nationals contest.

The two other nominees for the local award were Dr. Charles Algaier of Marianas High School, who won in the high school division, and Victor Cabrera of Hopwood Jr High School, who won in the middle school division.

Lee got a combined prize of $700. Algaier won $100 and Cabrera won $100.

When asked about how she felt about getting the award, Lee said, “I felt humbled and surprised but nervous because, wow, I’m going to be representing that many people.”

Lee is expecting to return from Washington, D.C. with ideas on how she can further help the community. That comes in the wake of how she and her sister tried to help the community after Super Typhoon Yutu in October 2018. Lee also spends her time after school helping kids in need of tutoring.

The VFW also gave out awards to those who competed in the Voice of Democracy, a speaking contest, and the Patriot’s Pen competition, a writing contest.

For the Voice of Democracy, Victoria Dela Cruz of Marianas High School, who placed second in 2017, won first place and $250 this year. She was the only qualifying entry for the VOD.

For the Patriot’s Pen contest, Yilliana Poquiz of Brilliant Star School won $150 and first place, Anna Marie Desey from Saipan International School won $100 and came in second place, Grace Quichocho, also from Saipan International School, came in third place and won $75.

The VFW Teacher of the Year award contest recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. Each year, a certified/licensed elementary, junior high and high school teacher whose curriculum focuses on citizenship education topics can be nominated for the national contest, which is called the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. Winners of this contest receive $1,000 for professional development expenses, $1,000 for his/her school, two award plaques for the teacher and his/her school, and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the VFW conference to receive the award.