years. I am the a science department chair, a accreditation chair, a health and wellness team chair, the Academic Challenge Bowl coach and American Red Cross walkathon coordinator for my school, the literacy training coordinator, a learning community chair, a HIV Review Panel chair, the summer health careers program coordinator and a Teen Talk advisor. I was my school’s teacher of the year twice and was in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers twice.
I am many things because I have been inspired by a great commissioner. Dr. Borja was my first principal. He came in after a chaotic year, 1999-2000. The community labeled my school as an unsafe school that was not conducive for learning. Dr. Borja stepped up and took over a school that many gave up on. He is a risk taker. I remember the first day teachers had to report to work and Dr. Borja led with enthusiasm. He spoke of the paradigm shift of what teachers were teaching to being student centered. Immediately, all the negativity I heard disappeared.
I have learned so much from Dr. Borja. My first year as a teacher I was asked to give a presentation on critical thinking skills after only two months in the classroom. He was very encouraging and supportive. Dr. Borja had an open door policy that I used many times. He and I had talks about how the importance of building capacity with new teachers because we were the future vice principals, principals, program specialists, associate commissioner, or commissioner. Dr. Borja stressed that our talents were being molded so that we could go from helping our school to helping other schools. In the end, we would help our community. Dr. Borja came numerous times to observe me in class. He saw my strengths and areas of improvement and assigned mentor teachers to me. I realized that even though I was a teacher, I was learning as well.
As a deputy commissioner and commissioner, he was very visible and active. He visited school classrooms, walked around campus, ate with students. My students in school and in Teen Talk know him. Parents know him. He attended learning community meetings, parent workshops, teacher workshops, and student workshops. At these student centered activities, he didn’t ask for acknowledgement. In fact, he observed, took notes and shared his thoughts and words of encouragement. He is enthusiastic and optimistic when he talks about our kids.
These past two years in particular have been extremely difficult, but I never gave up because he never gave up. I love my school and all its students, I love my learning community, I love my Teen Talk youth group, and I have loved working for PSS. Dr. Borja’s perseverance, steadfastness, and positive attitude inspire me and inspire many others
Dr. Borja has done an excellent job and deserves to be our commissioner. Students need him, schools need him, PSS central office needs him, and the community needs him. This is for our children.
I humbly ask the BOE to change its decision because he is the STUDENT-CENTERED leader we need to keep us going during these difficult times.
SHARLEEN CRISOSTIMO
San Roque, Saipan
