Co-hosted this year by the American Samoa Department of Education, American Samoa Community College, and Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, the conference is one of the largest gatherings of educators in the Pacific region.
A highlight is the honoring of the teachers of the year.
The teachers of the year recognition program, sponsored by Pacific corporate partners Continental Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt International Publishers and PREL, is a conference tradition that began in 1996.
This program provides an opportunity for outstanding teachers from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia — Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Yap — Guam, Hawai‘i, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau to attend the three-day conference.
The teachers are honored at a reception with their chief state school officers, traditional chiefs, government officials, and other dignitaries.
The teachers receive gifts of educational materials.
The opening general session of the conference is their moment, as the outstanding teachers are recognized by all conference attendees.
During the conference, the teachers of the year not only pursue their own professional development, but also share their successful teaching strategies with other conference attendees.
In their workshops, the teachers share “what works” in their classrooms, from lesson plans to instructional strategies in the teacher of the year presentations.
For more information, contact Jackie Burniske at 808-441-1300 or email burniskj@prel.org.
Tenorio, Torres meet with Homeland Security official
CNMI Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio and House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare Chairman Ralph DLG. Torres met on Friday with Dr. Richard Barth, assistant secretary for policy development for the Department of Homeland Security, a media release from Tenorio’s office stated.
Barth has been charged with overseeing the development of the regulations that will implement U.S. P.L. 110-229 which extends federal immigration law to the CNMI.
“The legislation provides the skeleton and the regulations are the muscle that makes it work,” Tenorio said. “It is very important that the regulations are developed in the same spirit that minimizes adverse economic and fiscal effects as the law provides under its principal findings and objectives. Both Chairman Torres and I expressed the need to protect businesses, jobs, and access to workers. I am very pleased with the meeting and the deep understanding that Dr. Barth has for our economic problems.”
Recognizing the huge challenge before the Department of Homeland Security and the Northern Marianas, Barth was very optimistic that the law could be flexibly implemented with sensitivity to the economic realities currently faced by the CNMI, while keeping in mind the department’s federal responsibility for security of the nation and its Pacific territories.
“We spoke at length about the visa waiver program and the inclusion of China and Russia. There are certainly foreign affairs challenges much larger than the CNMI, but I was relieved that Dr. Barth remained optimistic and recognized the unique aspects of the CNMI. He knows the importance of this developing market to our economy, and I feel optimistic that everything will work out to our advantage,” Tenorio said.
A team of Homeland Security attorneys is expected in the CNMI soon that will be meeting with leaders from various private sector industries, the governor and the Legislature.
Their intent is to calm nerves and reassure the people of the CNMI that Homeland Security desires broad participation and transparency in the development of the regulations.
“One of our biggest challenges is the upcoming change in the federal administration next January,” said Torres. “I hope that the new president maintains the same commitment to openness that we are currently enjoying. I intend to maintain contact with Homeland Security through the transition and make sure that implementation of this bill remains a top priority with the new administration. I am glad that I was able to participate in this meeting. There is a lot of apprehension and misinformation in the CNMI about the law and the regulations, and it was good for me to hear first hand from the assistant secretary of his department’s willingness to be flexible and their desire to improve the economy of the CNMI.”
