BOARD of Education Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja of Tinian was sworn in Monday morning by Supreme Court Justice Perry Inos.
Borja was appointed by former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to the nonpartisan BOE after Phillip Mendiola-Long of Tinian resigned on Oct. 20, 2020. In the November 2022 election, Borja ran unopposed for Tinian’s BOE seat.
Among those who witnessed Borja’s swearing in Monday in the BOE conference room on Capital Hill were his wife Star Taitano Borja; daughter, Aurora Dawson Taitano Borja; father and former Rep. Antonio SN Borja; and aunt Charlene Manglona.
Vice Chairman Borja, 34, is also the Tinian ports manager of the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
In his remarks, Borja commended the management of the Public School System, led by Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, for working hard toward ensuring that all public education stakeholders are given the support they need.
“To Commissioner Ada, Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna, and to all of our school administrators: thank you for making sure that our children are given the maximum support, and that we are always there for our staff — for all of PSS,” Vice Chairman Borja said.
He also expressed his appreciation to his parents for their support.
To his wife and daughter, the “two very important people in my life — thank you for motivating me,” he added.
To his colleagues on the BOE, he said, “We will continue to work together in ensuring that our children receive the optimum learning opportunities and our staff their continued professional growth.”
He added, “Let’s work together, let’s push forward for our students, for our teachers. We just have to remember that it’s all about students first.”
Ada, other PSS senior managers and various school principals also attended Vice Chairman Borja’s swearing-in ceremony.
“We will continue to work with all stakeholders with the guidance of the BOE in ensuring that students come first,” Ada said.
BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja of Saipan, for his part, congratulated Vice Chairman Borja.
“In my experience working with him during the past two years [when] he served as an appointed member, he has shown his passion [for] and dedication [to] truly putting our students first,” the BOE chairman said. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with him and our fellow board members to ensure the educational success of our students and to provide the support needed for our educators to achieve this goal.”
BOE Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio of Saipan said she is excited to continue working with her Tinian colleague.
“It is my honor to congratulate member Toram [Antonio L. Borja] on his swearing in as an elected member of the…Board of Education. I also extend my congratulations to his wife, Star, their daughter and the community of Tinian,” Tenorio said.
“Having worked with member Borja over the last two years, I have come to know him as a committed, compassionate, and ethical public servant. He is humble in all things and truly cares about our students, their guardians, teachers, and all of our stakeholders at PSS. I look forward to working with him to fulfill our mandate as board members.”
The other elected BOE members are Rota’s Herman M. Atalig and Saipan’s Andrew L. Orsini who won a second four-year term in the November 2022 election.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja of Tinian takes his oath of office before Supreme Court Justice Perry Inos Monday morning in the Board of Education conference room. Looking on is Borja’s father, former Rep. Antonio SN Borja.
Board of Education Vice Chairman L. Antonio Borja with his wife, Star Taitano Borja, daughter Aurora Dawson Taitano Borja, and Supreme Court Justice Perry Inos.
Board of Education Vice Chairman L. Antonio Borja, center, poses for a photo with legal counsels Michael Ernest and Tiberius Mocanu, BOE staffers Valerie Malwelbug and Delia Maratita, BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, BOE Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada and Supreme Court Justice Perry Inos.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja with his father, former Rep. Antonio San Nicholas Borja, and aunt Charlene Manglona.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja poses for a photo with Head Start/Early Head Start Director Lathania Angui, PSS Finance and Budget Director Arlene Lizama, Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline Che, Senior Director for Accountability Research and Evaluation Dr. Rizalina Liwag, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna, Senior Director for Curriculum and Instruction Jackie Quitugua, Communications and Media Coordinator Randee Jo Barcinas-Manglona, Human Resources Director Lucretia Deleon Guerrero, State Infrastructure Technology Director Jesse Tenorio, Instructional Technology and Distance Education interim Director Lorraine Catienza and Supreme Court Justice Perry Inos.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja with Principals Jonathan Aguon of Marianas High School, Derwin Johnson of Garapan Elementary School, Jasylene Parico of Oleai Elementary School, Christine Tudela of Da’ok Academy, Ben Jones of Kagman High School, Hilda Rios of Tanapag Middle School, Dr. Ignacia Demapan of Kagman Elementary School, Cherleyn Osung of Francisco M. Sablan Middle School, Raena Camacho of GTC Elementary School, Paulette Tomokane of San Vicente Elementary School, Carla Sablan of Chacha Oceanview Middle School, Dr. Lyn Mendiola of WSR Elementary School, James Sablan of Dandan Middle School and Vic Borja of Hopwood Middle School.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Antonio Borja delivers his remarks after he was sworn in.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Antonio Borja smiles as he makes a point while delivering his remarks.
