By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE commissioner of education for the CNMI Public School System, Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, briefly met with the U.S. assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, Kirsten Baesler, on the sidelines of the Council of Chief State School Officers Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
Baesler served as North Dakota’s state superintendent for public instruction from 2012 until her nomination in 2025. She and Camacho share a common commitment to public education, having participated together and remained in contact during their time as members of the CCSSO.
Baesler was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October 2025. In her current role, she oversees the federal office responsible for shaping and supporting K–12 education policy across the United States.
At the conference, Camacho renewed his invitation for Baesler to visit the CNMI and experience firsthand the local school system’s progress and ongoing efforts to provide quality public education to approximately 9,000 students across elementary, middle and high schools, as well as early intervention and special education programs in what he described as the farthest school district in the nation.
“I have extended the invitation, and she is considering it…to come out and explore the unique challenges we have out here as a territory,” Camacho said.
He emphasized that federal education support, administered through the PSS Federal Programs Office, continues to play a central role in sustaining student learning across the Commonwealth.
“Because of our location, and how we continue to work to address our challenges — including those tied to our geography, our dispersed student population, our schools’ physical locations, and the realities of island economies — these are issues we continue to navigate,” Camacho said. “While there is still work to be done, it goes without saying that we have our own story to share. That is why I extended the invitation to Assistant Secretary Baesler to see firsthand these unique challenges and the strides we have made over the years.”
Rare federal engagement
A visit by Baesler would mark a rare engagement by a senior federal education official in the Northern Marianas. The last such visit occurred in 2010, when one of her predecessors, Carl Harris, traveled to Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
More recently, in October 2024, CCSSO Executive Director Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller made a historic first visit to the CNMI upon Camacho’s invitation. She visited Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
Miller stood alongside Camacho, the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, and Board of Education officials in announcing the 2024–2025 CNMI Public School System State Teacher of the Year. Her visit also included a series of roundtable discussions with various stakeholders.
NMI takes national stage
Following that visit, the Public School System marked another milestone just four months later. In February 2025, the CCSSO provided PSS with an opportunity to present before the nation’s education leaders and policymakers during the Legislative Conference held March 25–27 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
PSS served as host and presenter at a dinner reception during the conference, CCSSO’s largest annual gathering of state education leaders, including secretaries of education, superintendents, federal liaisons and communications directors. Members of the U.S. Congress, including CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds, were also in attendance.
It marked the first time the CNMI Public School System was featured by CCSSO.
Following Camacho’s presentation, Miller commended his leadership and the territory’s participation.
“I visited the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and met his team and learned the history of his beautiful territory,” Miller said in a statement. “Commissioner Camacho is an impactful leader, and I was grateful he accepted my invitation to share the territory’s story with his colleagues from around the country at CCSSO’s Legislative Conference.”
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
