With the support they get from the Public School System and the community, “everything went great” said Army Capt. Jennifer Buniag, referring to the days they spent with their students.
Buniag, who is with the U.S. Army’s 303rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, was among the military personnel who taught in public schools under the PSS Troops to Teachers program.
National Guard members, Army Reservists as well as Junior Reserve Officers Training Course instructors and student enlistees were honored on Wednesday as Board of Education Chairwoman Marylou Ada signed the proclamation designating May 16 to 20 as Support Our Troops Week.
Buniag said she and other military personnel are set to leave the island for their respective camps in June to undergo training or to participate in missions. Others have already left.
She is scheduled to leave for Indonesia.
During her days at school, Buniag taught special education students along with other soldiers who served as SPED teacher aides.
Hopwood Junior High School principal Jonas Barcinas, who is also with the Army, said the federally funded Troops to Teachers program helped address the shortage of teachers and gave the men and women in uniform the opportunity to share their own academic knowledge and skills with school children.
Barcinas, who is with the 302nd Quartermaster Company, said there are Reservists who have not obtained their bachelor’s degree yet. He hopes they get it soon so they can teach in local schools.
The Troops to Teachers program was first implemented in the CNMI in 2006 to relieve teacher shortages especially in math, science, special education and other high-need subject areas. It also aims to assist military personnel in making a successful transition to second careers in teaching.
