MHS gives Raulerson pink slip
John Raulerson
There’s a chance that John Raulerson may not finish the upcoming 2016-2017 school year at Marianas High School after he was given notice that his contract will no longer be renewed. His non-renewal was a big surprise since he helped put up a program that earned MHS numerous awards.
Raulerson teaches mathematics at MHS and is the coach of the Aeronautical Dolphins, the two-time national champion and five-time Pacific State Championship winner in the Real World Design Challenge.
The Saipan Tribune tried to get comments from MHS principal Cherlyn Cabrera, but she was off-island attending a conference in Denver, Colorado. She will return on Saipan on July 25. Even vice principal Bobby Cruz was overseas.
MHS vice principal Karen Alla said she could not say anything about the issue when the Saipan Tribune asked her for comment. “Per [CNMI State Board of Education] policy, information like that needs to go through the principal.”
“Ms. Cabrera is the one who could talk about and make a comment on the issue. Any other concern, we must wait for her return next week.”
Raulerson said he received his notice last Thursday and he has until Oct. 5, 2016, to teach at MHS. “She even told me to sign up for this year’s [RWDC] contest. That’s why I was surprised to learn that after two weeks, my contract is not going to be renewed.”
“I helped this kids, MHS students, win two national championships. They went up against schools that have a bigger population of students. And I came from Florida, which has more than 19 million people; why throw me a curve [ball]?”
He said that he spent more than 600 hours last year to help the Aeronautical Dolphins with their design and presentation. “Even after the Typhoon Soudelor, we’re working. We worked at the airport, at Mango Six, or any place where there is power.”
“The Aeronautical Dolphins is an asset to the CNMI. It helped put the CNMI on the map academically; that there’s this tiny island in the Western Pacific that has an aerodynamics program,” said Raulerson, who added that he’ll attend today’s Board of Education meeting to raise the issue of his non-renewal.
Raulerson said people in Washington, D.C. recognized the CNMI after the Aeronautical Dolphins’ first win and claiming a second national title further cemented their status as one of the teams to watch out for.
“Now I’m worried about the remaining members of the team. This [Aeronautical Dolphins] program has helped a lot of kids. No idea yet what’s my next plan. I might go to Kagman [High School] and combine students there with the remaining kids at MHS.”
On a positive note, Raulerson said a video of their Skywalker plane that was their entry in the last national finals would be shown to the Democratic National Convention on July 25 to 28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
“This is the highest level of exposure in terms of education that these kids and the CNMI would get. Most of the Americans don’t know where’s Saipan or the CNMI. And they would be surprised to learn that there are kids from this island who are national champions.”
“There are kids on Saipan who are designing airplanes and learning more about aerodynamics and other [Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics] stuff. You will have a sitting U.S. President, Obama, and probably a future president [Hillary Clinton] in the convention.”
However, a former of student of Raulerson, who did not want to give his name to the Saipan Tribune, said he is not that great of a teacher since he only focuses his attention on the Aeronautical Dolphins and that’s why his other students are left behind with their lessons.
No wonder locals have been and continue to leave this place. No wonder outsiders do not want to come and contribute to the CNMI, they ones get stepped on and driven out due to the racial and political prejudices by “appointed’ no nothings. Especially if they are over achievers. Totally disgusting.
When students begin telling how they are “left behind”, it shows that Raulerson has lost sight of his primary role as a teacher. You weren’t hired to look for awards but to teach math, sir!
You must have been one of those that slept in class, didn`t show up and got failing grades. So what do you do? Blame it on the teacher. He/She didn`t teach me anything. The awards were academic. They set thresholds for students that didn`t sleep in class and were able to show their abilities and potentials nation wide, sir!
Cherlyn and the Ass. principal are on a junket? Why is this not surprising?
Actually, Raulerson has been a great teacher. Well, he has been biased towards exceptional students, but I think that’s because they actually TRY to learn the material. Overall, he expects the best efforts out of his students. If students don’t want to put in their effort in learning, don’t expect someone to hold their hand and guide them throughout the course like toddlers. he goes through the basics and its students jobs to build on that. Students need to learn to be academically independent early on because that’s what is going to get them through college.
I was a former valedictorian and got him as a sub for a week and saw that he could definitely be a better teacher. Granted, I was two math leagues ahead and my actual class was harder than the one he was teaching, but that is how I could see he could deliver the info as a teacher to the students in a way that could better facilitate their understanding. I’ve tutored my peers, people older and younger than me for over 15 years through college and grad school, so I don’t think I’m tripping when I say this. Then again I only had him for a week so who knows. I agree with the others on facilitating his students first and foremost, but I also think he should have been given a reason and offered a potential resolution. Get it together, CNMI.
What in the house of the devil is going on here? John Raulerson has contributed way above and beyond efforts for PSS. Especially for MHS. What intimidated devil in the flesh made this decision and why? This termination “without cause” is totally ridiculous. Was it because his/her car was not washed to their requirements. Are possibly an intelligent disagreement was made. Whichever, a cause should have to be submitted. The CFO of CUC was terminated without cause. Why, because he told the truth or just because he wasn`t liked. John Raulerson has a wife and two beautiful children. And it should not be allowed to destroy a persons livelihood, BECAUSE. Because of what? Raulerson should seek off island litigation. BECAUSE our legislators and labor are allowing this to happen. Hang in there Raulerson, and make sure those years of time and service are appreciated.
Teaching and learning actually starts from home. Parents should first hold themselves accountable. Teacher is there to guide and progress their learning but the “want to learn” has got to be there.
That being said, PSS do owe this man a reason.
What is going on with PSS?! I remember a while back, there was this huge change where PSS promised to have 100% Highly-Qualified Teachers, Counselors, and Administrators by 2011. What happened? Nevermind that these teachers have to pay for their own Praxis, pay for their own classes to get certified, pay for bi-annual certification fees, etc., but now Highly Qualified Teachers are getting the boot without any explanation?! These positions will no doubt be replaced by less-qualified “long-term substitute teachers” who just graduated from high school. Yes, it is cheaper to staff schools with substitute teachers, but is it worth our children’s educations? Is it worth the quality of our public school system? What was the point of stressing HQT, if PSS is just going to settle for substitutes, unqualified counselors, and questionable standards?
If you only knew what Raulerson does at MHS…that a-hole of a teacher back when i was in high school had alot female students hating on him. Ask MHS why they would fire him? because he is a pervert who eats young females mentally by looking at their legs and if they are wearing skirts, he would stare. FACT: I’ve seen it with my two eyes and had friends who are girls bring their parents to complain about him…yet nothing was ever done…good finally they are giving him the pink slip. Perverted teachers should leave MHS.
Only PSS and Mr Raulerson know the reasons for non-renewal. There sure are a lot of people with lots to say about this without knowing any of the facts.
Ask yourself who/why did this story even make the papers? PSS allows teachers to change schools even after not renewing their contracts. If another school has space, and he is everything the commenters say his is, then he will land on his feet and prove the MHS admin fools for letting him go. If he is the man I think he is he will make a strong member of the SSHS or KHS staff and they will be happy to have him. If not those other principals will not entertain him.
Students have been complaining about Raulerson for years.. Not just the ones who “slept in class”, but even members of his Aeronautical Dolphins club. I highly doubt PSS would get rid of one of their best teachers for a simple rumor.
I also want to add that MHS should really start enforcing their dress code!