Commissioner of Education Lawrence Camacho paints the “portrait of a graduate” as part of a presentation at a recent Saipan Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting.
COMMISSIONER of Education Lawrence Camacho was a special presenter on Wednesday at the general membership meeting of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, where he sought the SCC’s partnership for a K-12 college- and career-connected system framework, set to pilot in the 2026-2027 school year.
Camacho called it the “portrait of a graduate” presentation.
“We want to be that district that really identifies students, watches and guides them from the moment they enter our learning spaces as kindergarteners all the way through 12th grade,” he said.
Camacho said PSS could model the new framework on the Metro Nashville Public School System, which offers “practical, hands-on learning in small learning communities,” according to a YouTube video he shared with the Chamber.
In Nashville, high school students visit job sites to learn how different businesses and industries operate. The placements are based on local workforce needs. Students gain hands-on experience in various fields of study, such as hospitality, IT, finance, engineering, healthcare, to name a few.
Students then return to school and pursue studies in “academies” designed to prepare them for specific career pathways.
In the CNMI, Camacho envisions introducing academic exposure and career awareness at the kindergarten and elementary levels; providing a “continuum of experiences” at the middle school level to prepare students for high school academies; and enabling students to choose and pursue a career pathway in high school, continuing that pathway into college and beyond.
In addition to career pathways, he said PSS will also develop students’ “soft skills” in citizenship, cultural awareness, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity as they progress from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Camacho is hoping that the Chamber could support the framework through mentorship, internships, guidance to align school pathways with local industry, resource support, guest speaking, site visits, or joining the PSS advisory council.
“It’s this pipeline that we’re making sure is the best it can be for our students,” Camacho said. “The right way is to ensure the pipeline motivates students, builds their self-efficacy, and helps them become competent and confident to pursue the careers they are excited about.”
