MOUNT Carmel School’s board of directors on Tuesday announced that Frances Taimanao is the Catholic school’s new president.
The board chairman, Vicente M. Babauta, made the announcement in a press conference.
Taimanao, who was the school principal, served as the acting president for school year 2021-2022 after the Northern Marianas College board of regents hired her predecessor, Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, to be NMC’s new president.
Babauta said Taimanao has been with MCS for 17 years and was recommended by Deleon Guerrero to succeed him, based on her professional experience, years of commitment to the school, and his confidence in her abilities to lead MCS.
Babauta said after several challenging years, Taimanao “is the right person for the job, in leading the school for the next two years.” She will also take the lead in the preparation for the school’s 70th anniversary celebration next year.
Taimanao thanked the board, saying it was an honor to be selected as the new school president. She said there is a lot of work to be done. She noted that last year, the school updated so many things “and we will continue to do so, especially now that our 70th anniversary is coming.”
But before all that, “we have to open our school year,” she said.
Today, Wednesday, Aug. 10, will be the first day of MCS’s new school year and as in the past, it will begin with Mass followed by classroom orientation.
Taimanao said there are a lot of changes that will be implemented. For example, there will be social and emotional learning sessions every Friday. On this day, she said, students will undergo stress management training.
They will also participate in off-campus workshops on stress management.
“That is something new for this school, and that is something we will have our students involved in,” Taimanao said.
She said MCS will work hard to meet the goals of its five-year strategic plan. There is always room for improvement, she said, “and that is what we are going to be working hard for.”
Frances T. Taimanao, center, is Mount Carmel School’s new president. Also in photo are MCS board member Jacqueline Che, left, and chairman of the board Vicente Babauta.
Members of Mount Carmel School’s board of directors and leadership team participate in a press conference which announced Frances T. Taimanao as the new school president.
Mount Carmel School’s faculty, staff, and members of the board of directors gather for a group photo after announcing Frances Taimanao as the school’s new president.
