By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

FIVE Public School System teachers have resigned and are transferring either to the U.S. or Guam.
Education Commissioner David M. Borja yesterday said the five teachers are from Saipan schools.
He said one of the teachers is with the Head Start program, another is from an elementary school and the rest are from secondary schools.
“This is a challenge for PSS because we need to find replacements for these five positions as soon as possible,” Borja said.
PSS has 505 teachers on Saipan, Rota and Tinian.
Borja said the system continues to need teachers in math, English and science.
“Our schools are always looking for replacement teachers and we are currently addressing this concern by having some of our principals teaching classes and tapping the services of our retired former classroom teachers,” he said.
PSS, he added, will need about 60 classroom teachers for the next school year in addition to special education teachers for the elementary schools.
“We’re hoping that the number will be smaller once our teachers have passed (Praxis),” Borja said.
PSS has 314 teachers — 63 percent of the total — who have passed Praxis and are now classified as highly qualified.
PSS has been given an extension by the U.S. Department of Education to meet the highly qualified requirement, but Borja said “our teachers and principals must pass the rigorous tests as soon as possible.”
He added, “Although we have teachers, the shortage is in connection with the qualified teachers. We have many teachers working toward the certification and qualification requirements and although many individuals are interested in helping PSS, we can onlyhave them serve as substitute teachers because we need teachers in specific areas.”
Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, school systems that are given federal grants must ensure that teachers are highly qualified.