{"id":404386,"date":"2024-01-10T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404386"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Full-circle-for-new-Education-commissioner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Full-circle-for-new-Education-commissioner\/","title":{"rendered":"Full circle for new Education commissioner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Lawrence Camacho, the new Education commissioner of the CNMI Public School System, has come full circle, returning to the CNMI to fulfill his passion of serving his people.<\/p>\n

Camacho began his four-year tenure as Education commissioner last Monday, taking over the office that was held by interim Education commissioner Donna M. Flores for the past five months. Flores returns to her post as<\/p>\n

Camacho, in a press conference with local media yesterday afternoon at the Commissioner\u2019s Office on Capital Hill, said that he is \u201ccommitted to this calling as a Commissioner of Education. I don\u2019t consider this as just another job that we apply for and come get paid to do. I consider it a calling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that the CNMI invested in me to be at this point in my life. I am a retiree of the United States Army, I have gone through my education… with three master\u2019s degrees and a doctoral degree, so I believe that\u2019s enough for me to come home finally and eventually give back to our community,\u201d said Camacho on why he chose to work for PSS.<\/p>\n

Also during the conference, he described his goals that he will set forth in his tenure. He said his main goal is to have students graduate. \u201cMy No. 1 priority is to have students come here and enjoy their time in our school district. I want students to be able to say, \u2018I am in the CNMI Public School System because I’m learning, I’m enjoying my time, I’m growing, I’m developing,\u2019 and then for us to guide those students and then eventually graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also said that it\u2019s not just to let students graduate and that\u2019s the end of it. \u201cThe other thing is that we have to guide them through this process and as we guide them through this process, we’re hoping that when they graduate eventually, they know where they’re going\u2014whether it’s straight into the workforce, whether it’s in higher education, or they go into the trades,\u201d said Camacho.<\/p>\n

With that, he wants to establish a \u201ctriboard\u201d between the PSS Board of Education, Northern Marianas College Board of Regents, and the Northern Marianas Technical Institute Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n

He said that triboard is a dream of his where \u201cwe are the executive officers. We’re going to make sure that they’re executing the policies, but at the policy making level, those three boards can collaborate and drive us to ensure that we have policies that are aligned with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cI’m hoping that that board also is understanding the directions of our economy\u2014our Commonwealth\u2019s direction for economic advancement. As they advance and they understand that, they can then provide those good policies for us. We at the bottom here in the system, could provide them feedback with, \u2018based on the expertise on learning and teaching, here’s what we’re trying to do to make sure that we’re aligned with your policies, that is aligned with the economy, and where the direction of the Commonwealth is going\u2019. We’re developing problem solvers. We’re developing leaders, and they’re going to be the ones who are going to be out there in the future. But, we need to understand where that future is and what that future looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Flores\u2019 time in office, Camacho said, \u201cthere\u2019s a lot of credit that needs to happen. The hardest thing as an interim, is to bridge that\u2014to make sure there\u2019s no distraction from the current operation that\u2019s happening and she\u2019s done a tremendous job. In fact, she elevated from where she took on, to the next level. She kept the team intact and the team that\u2019s intact, I\u2019m very happy with dealing with them and operating with them because of her leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flores, who is assisting in the transition, said, \u201cIt\u2019s been a great experience for me… It just kind of quadrupled my responsibility\u2026 I enjoy challenge\u2014I enjoy making people feel comfortable working, so they can do their job. And so our stakeholders, our beneficiaries are of course going to benefit from that and that\u2019s our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said she\u2019s had great support overall and appreciates what everyone did. \u201cI couldn\u2019t have done it by myself. It\u2019s not perfect, but it happened and the kids continue to learn and enjoy learning. I think for the most part, everybody enjoyed coming to work and doing what they\u2019re supposed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

She then expressed her appreciation to Camacho who came on board when he did. \u201cIt\u2019s a new year, so it\u2019s a new start for everybody. It\u2019s a new perspective maybe as well for the school system, so we\u2019re excited to see what he has to bring to the table. We\u2019ve heard of his plans and we\u2019re excited to see it put into action. Of course, it\u2019s a win-win for everybody and we\u2019re just here to continue to support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to accepting the PSS job, Camacho was both the dean of the Enrollment Management and Student Success and Student\/Classroom Experience at the University of Guam.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From left, new Public School System Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Camacho, former interim Education commissioner Donna Flores, and associate commissioner of Administration Eric Magofna, in the Commissioner\u2019s Office on Capital Hill yesterday afternoon during a press conference.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

New Public School System Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Camacho, left, and former interim Education commissioner Donna Flores answer questions during a press conference at the Commissioner\u2019s Office on Capital Hill yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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