Tinian Elementary School educator Jenina Manglona, 4th left, joined by her family, is honored by the Public School System’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction-Science Program as this year’s CNMI winner of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Senior Director Jackie Quitugua and Program Director Asapmar Ogumoro and Tinian Elementary School Principal Lou Connie Manglona and Vice Principal April Manglona presented the award.
(PSS) — A Tinian Elementary School third-grade teacher is the CNMI recipient of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
The awards are conferred by the U.S. government to K-12 teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and are presented by the White House and the National Science Foundation.
As the CNMI awardee, Jenina Manglona is now one of the finalists for the national awards. According to the National Science Foundation, each year up to 110 outstanding educators from across the United States “are recognized by the White House for their passion, dedication, and impact in the classroom.”
In the CNMI, the Public School System confers the award through its Office of Curriculum and Instruction-Science Program led by its director, Asapmar Ogumoro.
Manglona honors her mother for inspiring her to be an educator. “She was a high school biology teacher for two decades,” Manglona said. “She instilled in me a love of science by constantly sharing her enthusiasm for the subject through captivating stories about the wonders of the human body or fascinating discussions about the intricate balance in nature — she made science come alive for me. I witnessed her dedication to teaching and her ability to inspire her students’ curiosity. That influenced my appreciation for science and motivated me to pursue a career in education.”
“Although I took a different career path at first,” Manglona said, “I eventually found my way to become an educator myself. My mother inspired me because I saw how her former students appreciated her as a teacher. When I talked to some of her students, they told me she was their favorite teacher. This motivated me to strive to be as impactful as she was when I became a teacher.”
Manglona also thanked the Tinian public school community, adding that it was their collective support and partnership that allowed her to succeed in her classroom teaching.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my principal, who recommended me for this award and recognized my potential. Her belief in me and the numerous training opportunities she has provided have been instrumental in my growth and development as a teacher. I am also deeply thankful to my family for their unwavering support and understanding of my busy schedule. Their encouragement has been a cornerstone of my journey,” Manglona said.
“I also want to acknowledge my vice principal and my previous and current colleagues for their invaluable support. I have learned from them and will continue to grow through our shared experiences. To the parents of my current and former students, thank you for your trust and collaboration. Together, we are helping our students become independent and productive learners,” she added.
For its part, the Office of Instruction and Curriculum-Science Program praised the Tinian educator’s success.
“This is a moment of immense pride for our community and a testament to the transformative impact Mrs. Manglona has on her students,” the program said. “We had the privilege of (knowing and working with) Mrs. Manglona, and we are honored to know more of her inspirational journey and unwavering commitment to education.”’
Third-grade classroom teacher Jenina Manglona poses for a photo with her students after she was selected as the state-level winner of the prestigious President Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
