Borja, who is currently the Tinian ports manager, was appointed by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres as the island representative following the resignation of board member Philip Mendiola-Long on Oct. 20, 2020.
After he was sworn in, the 31-year-old Borja attended the special meeting of the board to discuss, among other things, the Public School System response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
BOE Chairwoman Janice Marie A. Tenorio, for her part, thanked the governor and lt. governor for acting fast on her request to appoint a new Tinian representative to the board.
She said it is critical that the board has a representative from Tinian.
Antonio Borja of Tinian, third right, was sworn in Friday by Board of Education Chairwoman Janice Marie A. Tenorio, second right, as the new BOE member from Tinian. Borja was appointed by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to succeed Philip Mendiola-Long who has resigned. Also in photo are BOE Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, right, board member MaryLou S. Ada, third left, board member Andrew Orsini, second left, and Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, left. PSS photo
“He is now a voting, full-fledged member and we welcome him,” Tenorio said of Borja. “He is eager to learn and to catch up really fast. I feel really positive about him. He has a very positive attitude. I believe that he will be a good asset to the board,” Tenorio said.
“So I thank the governor and the lt. governor for really acting fast on [Borja’s] appointment.”
Borja thanked the governor for the appointment. “I am here not to hold back PSS. I am here to help the students and the teachers. That is my first priority. I am going to do my best to try and help the students, teachers and principals as much as I can. They got my support.”
Teacher representative Paul Miura, who attended the meeting remotely, also welcomed Borja to the board and congratulated him on his appointment.
