Named teacher of the year was Victoria Borja.
She has been a teacher for 27 years and has been with Mount Carmel for almost six years now.
“I feel so excited and overwhelmed that I am Teacher of the Year,” the English teacher said.
The staff of the year was Julia Villafuerte, the school’s accountant for 11 years now.
“I think this is the fruit of my efforts here,” she said.
Other faculty and staff acknowledged yesterday for their exemplary performance were Saturnina Alvarez, Susan Rose Babauta, Candida Bahillo, Delson Balance, Bobby Nelson Baldazo, Luz Baldazo, Fermina Benavente, Ignacio Benavente, Rommel Calcena, Martha Camacho, former Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho, Danilo Chan, Louise Concepcion, Irma Cruz, Maria Obedia Diamante, Ana Liezl Liveta, Lourdes Mendiola, Delfina Muna, Marrian Pallarca, Isaias Quiambao, Victor Regis, Maria Zita Sablan, Tomoko Shimizu, Tobed Smith, Frances Taimanao and Teresita Zulaybar.
The awards were given by Margaret C. DelaCruz, Mount Carmel School president; Chalan Kanoa Bishop Tomas A. Camacho; Lynette Villagomez, chairwoman, MCS board of directors; Lourdes Mendiola, MCS principal; Bobby Baldazo, MCS vice principal; and Louise Concepcion, institutional development director.
In her remarks, Commissioner Sablan thanked the bishop for transforming the school to what it is now.
“You have truly established not just a well-run Catholic school but a well rounded Catholic education system in the Northern Marianas,” she said.
Sablan talked about commitment and passion for education as she recalled the days when she was still a grade school student at Mount Carmel, and how her spiritual experience made her strong and more appreciative of Christian values and faith. She completed her elementary education at the private school in 1971.
As a young college graduate she went back to Saipan and taught at Mount Carmel School for four years. Sablan served as teacher for fourth, fifth, ninth and 10th grade students.
