IN a ceremony attended by his family and education officials, former Board of Education Chair Herman A. Atalig of Rota was recognized on Monday afternoon by the House of Representatives for his contributions to public education in the Commonwealth.
Atalig, a retired sergeant major, was serving his second four-year term as chair of the BOE, the policymaking and governing body of the Public School System, when he stepped down for health reasons in June 2023. Prior to his resignation, he was the BOE’s most senior member.
House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and the principal author of House Commemorative Resolution 23-11, Rep. Julie Marie A. Ogo, led the House in honoring Atalig.
“This is a well-deserved resolution,” Villagomez said. “You have represented the people of Rota and the CNMI and the nation, both as an education policymaker and a soldier.”
Ogo, for her part, said, “Thank you for your commitment — the people of Rota truly acknowledge and appreciate your passion, sacrifices, and volunteerism.”
According to the House resolution, it is “incumbent upon the people of the [CNMI] to duly recognize those distinguished individuals who, with honor and courage, selflessly serve their country to protect the lives and liberties of our citizens and whose military service, professional accomplishments, and civic contributions significantly enhance the stature of this great Commonwealth ….”
The House is “proud to honor Atalig’s tenure as chair … of the CNMI Board of Education, as well as his roles on the Committees for Fiscal, Personnel, and Administration, and the Capital Improvement Projects that allowed him to contribute to our communities and the CNMI Public School System in significant and meaningful ways.”
Families
Atalig was accompanied by his lifetime mentor of 29 years, D. Tanya King — herself a former school administrator and an elected BOE member from Rota — as well as his siblings, nephews, and nieces.
“As you all know, I have three families here — with all of you here, I can never accomplish what I did accomplish without all of you, my families, here. And I am so touched … deeply touched by all of your presence,” Atalig said.
“First of all, my family from the PSS, our Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Camacho, Special Education State Director Donna Flores, thank you for coming to surprise me. My heart is beating [as if I ran] a hundred miles,” he said. “No one and nobody can accomplish anything without the support of someone and/or everybody. This is for all of us that helped me along the way.”
Atalig added, “To all our honorable legislators, I really admire what you do. Thank you for this. I just hope, when … our kids … come back, they need something like this … to be recognized. I really want the young folks to be recognized because we have a lot of people that are coming home with education and experience.”
“I truly accept the honor on behalf of all of you because this one is for all of us,” he added.
‘I love you guys’
Atalig also praised the BOE’s Maisie B. Tenorio who stepped up to assume the board leadership in an acting capacity.
“To my board, I love you guys. I’m very, very sorry that I have [to step down]. I was really helpless on my journey [to] recovery,” he said.
“Maisie … thank you so much because you’re always there, and you’ve always given me the great respect of giving me the updates even though I am sick,” he added.
Epitome of public service
Atalig then asked the commissioner of education “for one short message.” Camacho obliged, stating that what Atalig had rendered “is the epitome of service, dedication, and devotion to the community. All of this is what we all saw and experienced working with Sergeant Major Atalig.”
Camacho added, “He is indeed a reflection and embodiment of how [to greatly contribute] to our community and what it’s like to be from here in this beautiful Commonwealth that we live in, and we call our home.” Camacho also said that Atalig gained leadership experience, came back and served to give back to the islands — as is expected of those in whom the community had invested.
Camacho said he is grateful for the guidance and leadership Atalig has provided.
Former Board of Education Chairman Herman A. Atalig, fifth left, front row, was honored Monday afternoon by the House of Representatives for his significant contributions in public education on Rota and the CNMI. Holding the commemorative resolution is his lifetime mentor, educator and former BOE member D. Tanya King. Also in photo are BOE Chair Gregory Pat Borja, BOE Vice Chair Maisie B. Tenorio, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, lawmakers and education officials. They are flashing the number 1 sign to signify “Students First,” which is the motto of the Public School System.
PSS photo
Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, fourth right, standing, presents a framed copy of the House Commemorative Resolution 23-11 to former Board of Education chair and retired Sgt. Maj. Herman A. Atalig, center, who was accompanied by his family, BOE members and Public School System officials.
