Interim Commissioner of Education Donna M. Flores, right, honors the CNMI’s public school principals for their commitment, sacrifices and hard work during the culmination of the National Principals Month celebration at the Pacific Islands Club.
Interim Commissioner of Education Donna M. Flores and other Public School System officials pose for a photo with the school district’s 20 elementary, middle, and high school principals during a professional development session at the Pacific Islands Club. October is National Principals Month.
(PSS) — Interim Commissioner of Education Donna M. Flores on Wednesday led other Public School System officials in honoring and praising the CNMI’s public school principals.
The “most underrated profession” that performs “very demanding” tasks, Flores said, referring to the school principals.
“I have been with you all for almost 14 years and have had the pleasure of building a working relationship with each of you,” she said. “And these past two months, I’ve had the opportunity to view you from a different lens, and I can honestly say my perception has come full circle in terms of the gratitude I hold for the care and commitment you have for the staff and students we serve, while oftentimes going unrecognized, underrecognized or even unacknowledged for what you do.”
October is National Principals Month.
“Most of the time,” Flores said, “the 1% wrong overshadows the 99% right, which is sometimes a fact of life for many of us. At any rate, you all deserve a round of applause for what you do and for why you do what you do.”
Flores also expressed Board of Education Chairman Antonio L. Borja’s appreciation for all school administrators. “Our chairman says thank you for all your sacrifices, for what you do for our children and our schools.”
The CNMI’s public elementary school principals are Raena Camacho (Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School); Derwin Johnson (Garapan Elementary School); Dr Ignacia Demapan (Kagman Elementary School); Paulette Tomokane (San Vicente Elementary School); Jasylene Parico (Oleai Elementary School); Lou Connie Manglona (Tinian Elementary School); Daisy Quitugua (Sinapalo Elementary School); Naomi Nishimura (Koblerville Elementary School); and Dr. Lyn Mendiola (William S. Reyes Elementary School).
The public middle school principals are Carla Sablan (Chacha Oceanview Middle School); James Sablan (Dandan Middle School); Hilda Rios (Tanapag Middle School); Cherlyn Osung (Francisco M. Sablan Middle School); and Victorino Borja (Hopwood Middle School).
The public high school principals are Liz Perzinski (Tinian High School and Tinian Middle School); Annette Calvo (Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School); Vince Dela Cruz (Saipan Southern High School); Ben Jones (Kagman High School); Jonathan Aguon (Marianas High School); and Christine Tudela (Da’ok Academy).
Qualities
Flores identified eight qualities of an effective and successful school principal.
“Although you all fall into more than one of these eight qualities, I’m going to call you out with the ones that I immediately attached to you, and I beg your indulgence with this introduction,” she added.
Leadership
Flores said every administrator must demonstrate excellent leadership traits. An effective leader should be accountable for his or her school’s triumphs and failures. Regardless of the challenges, a school principal should always look for innovative methods to improve the school, Flores added.
She praised Chacha Oceanview Middle School Principal Carla Sablan for taking on the job “when we needed someone to step up for a period of time.”
Flores likewise praised Dandan Middle School Principal James Sablan for being “supportive of his staff and taking responsibility for all his actions.”
Communication skills
Flores said communication skills are among the biggest qualities of a successful school administrator. “You interact with many people, including parents, students, and staff. As a result, you must ensure that you convey vital information in a timely and suitable manner — the way you speak to a child differs from how you talk to a parent or a staff member.”
Flores commended Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Principal Cherlyn Cabrera Osung and Hopwood Middle School Principal Victorino Borja for their schools’ effective response to recent threats.
Vision
School principals are also visionaries and futuristic, Flores said. “Make your vision for the school clear not only to your staff, parents, and students, but also to yourself. Create and promote a clear and defined vision for your school’s future, and work on it daily,” she added as she commended WSR Elementary School Principal Dr. Lynn Mendiola for being a “future-ready” leader who sets the bar high.
For her part, Kagman Elementary School Principal Dr. Ignacia Demapan is a lifelong learner who is able to adjust to the new trends in education and learning, Flores said.
Problem-solving skills
A principal’s job requires problem-solving skills, Flores said. In many circumstances, a new principal is appointed to a school experiencing difficulties, and is expected to deal with a variety of challenging and complex situations.
Flores said Saipan Southern High School Principal Vince Dela Cruz manifests this kind of skill by providing concrete solutions to his school’s problems.
Flores also commended the following principals:
• Tanapag Middle School’s Hilda Rios for providing a plan for every issue presented to her;
• Tinian Jr.-Sr. High School’s Liz Perzinski for handling the separation of high school from middle school; and
• Sinapalo Elementary School Principal Daisy Quitugua for her leadership every time there is an approaching storm.
Dedication
Flores said a competent administrator is committed to his or her job. S/he believes “choices should be made with the children’s best interest in mind,” Flores added as she recognized Da’ok Academy Principal Christine Tudela for believing in her students’ potential.
Flores also commended Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Annette Calvo for her dedication. Calvo served as the school’s vice principal for many years. Last week, Flores appointed her principal.
Student-centric
Flores said it’s too easy to get caught up in work aspirations, day-to-day duties, and school budget needs, but school principals are also, first and foremost, educators “responsible for providing the best education.
“As a result, you have your students’ trust, their parents’ trust, and the community’s trust, both inside and outside the school,” Flores said as she recognized GTC Principal Raena Camacho for taking on an extra role as a “substitute for an absent classroom teacher.”
Flores also praised Oleai Elementary School Jasylene Parico for ensuring that the school is able to provide uninterrupted learning to students; and Tinian Elementary School Principal Lou Connie Manglona for “walking the extra mile” by driving a school bus to ensure that students are picked up or driven home safely.
Organizational skills
Flores said a principal should also have the “best organizational skills,”
She recognized Marianas High School Principal Jonathan Aguon, San Vicente Elementary School Principal Paulette Tomokane, and Garapan Elementary School Principal Derwin Johnson for successfully and effectively managing their campuses.
These three schools are the largest in terms of staff and student population.
Fairness and integrity
Flores said a principal should always be fair and must always act with integrity.
She lauded Kagman High School Principal Ben Jones Jr. and Koblerville Elementary School’s Naomi Nishimura for treating all their teachers, staff and students with respect and fairness.
“Let’s face it: we all have our own personal lives,” Flores said. “Only when I worked for PSS did I complain about not having enough time in the day to get things done at work, let alone make time for myself or my family. Yet here I am, still going at it, just as you are, hoping to achieve the balance. Why? That’s what leaders do. So, thank you. Just thank you for everything,” Flores added.
She also thanked the school principals for supporting her temporary appointment as interim education commissioner.
“The people I least expected showed me great respect and with high regard — I will never forget who you are,” Flores said.
