(PSS) — Yeji Lee, a 5th-grade classroom teacher at William S. Reyes Elementary School, was named the district-wide 2025 Public School System Teacher of the Year on Wednesday.
Six other outstanding PSS personnel in various categories were honored during the culmination of the school system’s 36th anniversary celebration at WSR Elementary School.
Four students were also honored for winning Education Day competitions.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho described all the awardees, along with all of the district’s staff and personnel, as “champions of public education.”
The chief executive officer of the Council for Chief State School Officers, Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, flew from the nation’s capital to witness the school district’s milestone celebration, including the selection of the 2025 awardees. The CCSSO runs the National Teacher of the Year Program.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who joined Camacho and Miller in presenting the district-level awards, said Education Day is “about celebrating the great contributions and all the hard work of everyone.”
Also receiving their awards were 2025 Public School System Teacher Aide of the Year Alvin Risk I. Arcega of Marianas High School; 2025 Instructor of the Year Gloria Ann S. Rasiang of Francisco M. Sablan Middle School; 2025 Counselor of the Year Yvonnalyn Leonie S. Taimanao of Koblerville Elementary School; 2025 Librarian of the Year Maria L. Ornes of Kagman High School; and the 2025 Trades & Maintenance Staff of the Year: Diego M. Cabrera of San Vicente Elementary School and Eladia G. Muna of Kagman Elementary School.
Advancement and growth
Camacho said that since its establishment, PSS has been led by a group of champions.
PSS, he added, “has experienced numerous advancements and growth during the past 36 years. The men and women who supported our causes and made sure we stayed dedicated to our goal as PSS family are responsible for all of these. We have made progress and accomplished a great deal because we have all of you.”
He added, “There are a few of the champions…who made it even further…something extra that set them apart from the rest of our wonderful men and women. For this reason, we are recognizing them as district-level honorees.”
In her remarks, CCSSO Chief Executive Officer Miller said, “Greetings from Washington, D.C., to all of you! I come from the CSSO, which runs the National Teacher of the Year Program since 1952. This program supports special educators in all states and territories, and once selected, the teacher of the year will embark on a year-long learning and appreciation journey with us in Washington, D.C.”
She added, “We appreciate all of our educators because of their life-changing roles in our students…in our lives. I am just excited here today to witness the awarding of the 2025 Teacher of the Year.”
Governor Palacios said, “On behalf of Lt. Governor Apatang, myself, and the people of the Commonwealth, we want to extend our congratulations on your Education Day celebration and to all of the awardees.”
“We celebrate and congratulate you for all your hard work for our Public School System…. Commissioner Camacho [and] all the staff and personnel — thank you for all that you do,” the governor added.
Student winners
Camacho, Miller, Palacios, and Board of Education Teacher Representative Dr. Dora Miura led the school district in honoring the student winners of this year’s Education Day competitions.
Isamu Santos, a 4th-grade San Vicente Elementary School student, won the Education Day theme-writing contest. Santos’s entry was: “Education: Linking missing pieces together to create a powerful masterpiece.”
Two winners were honored in the essay-writing contest. At the elementary school level, Tristan Olita, a 5th-grader from William S. Reyes Elementary School, took the top prize. For the middle school/secondary level, the winner was Merleen Tamerang, a 7th-grader from Francisco M. Sablan Middle School.
Sinapalo Elementary School 6th-grader Logan Atalig won the logo competition.
Teacher of the Year
The 2025 PSS Teacher of the Year, Lee, 28, is a fifth-grade classroom teacher at WSR Elementary School. She was selected through a rigorous selection process involving the 20 public elementary, middle and high schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Lee is a first-generation immigrant from Korea.
“I am truly honored,” she said. “I don’t think that I would be able to achieve this far without the support of my coworkers, my family, my friends, and, of course, my students.”
Lee graduated at the top of her class from Northern Marianas College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on Elementary Education.
She received her master’s in education degree in Learning and Technology from Western Governor’s University in Millcreek, Utah.
When PSS launched the teacher-training initiative, Project Lead the Way, she was among the pioneer cohorts. Also this year, she was honored with the 21st Century Educator Award.
Teacher Aide of the Year
Alvin Risk I. Arcega has been a special education teacher aide for MHS for over seven years now.
“I would say that my experience working at MHS has been fulfilling. I started working at MHS…after completing my time as a tutor with AmeriCorps,” Arcega said.
“My fellow educators in the special education department, as well as my former teachers in general education, helped guide me along as I worked with our special needs students. I then saw firsthand how much this job can greatly affect those we serve, as well as the hardships, the difficulties, and the challenges that go into providing equitable and appropriate education to those with disabilities. The job makes me feel fulfilled in my life, and I’m grateful for the time I spend here at MHS and for the many years to follow,” he added.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho announces William S. Reyes Elementary School’s Yeji Lee as the 2025 Public School System Teacher of the Year. Also pictured are Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Council of Chief State School Officers Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, Board of Education Teacher Representative Dr. Dora B. Miura, and Lee’s family.
PSS photo
2025 Public School System Teacher of the Year Yeji Lee and her family with William S. Reyes Elementary School Principal Dr. Lynn Mendiola, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, CCSSO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, and school district officials.
The 2025 Public School System Teacher Aide of the Year is Alvin Risk I. Arcega of Marianas High School. Arcega, a special education teacher, was honored Wednesday by Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, CCSSO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, Board of Education Teacher Rep. Dr. Dora Miura, and other Public School System officials.
025 Instructor of the Year Gloria Ann S. Rasiang of Francisco M. Sablan Middle School with her FMS family and education and government leaders, led by Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, CCSSO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, and Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
Koblerville Elementary School Counselor Yvonnalyn Leonie S. Taimanao delivers her impromptu remarks after she was named the 2025 Public School System Counselor of the Year. Also in photo: Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, CCSSO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, KES Principal Naomi Nishimura, Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline Che, and Acting PSS Finance Director Jonathan Aguon.
San Vicente Elementary School’s Diego M. Cabrera is one of the two district-level winners of the 2025 Public School System Trades & Maintenance Staff of the Year Award.
Kagman Elementary School celebrates one of their own: Elaida G. Muna is one of the two district-level winners of the 2025 Public School System Trades & Maintenance Staff of the Year Award.
Kagman High School librarian Maria Ornes is the 2025 Public School System Librarian of the Year.
