THE Public School System has earned two national recognitions for its innovation in digital learning and artificial intelligence integration through its education technology program, run by the federally funded Instructional Technology and Distance Education or ITDE initiative.
These awards highlight PSS ITDE’s commitment to student learning by expanding opportunities through the continued integration of digital tools and artificial intelligence in classrooms. This focus enables public schools in Rota, Tinian, and Saipan to fully embrace technology and innovation in their educational practices.
The PSS ITDE Program, led by Director Dr. Lorraine Catienza, received the Anthology Catalyst Award for Training and Professional Development, while ITDE Instructional Coach Dr. Riya Nathrani was presented with the GenerationAI Luminary Award from ISTE-ASCD.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho praised the ITDE team for their passion in empowering students, educators, and all stakeholders in public education.
“These awards reflect the incredible innovation and expertise within our PSS family. I am proud of the work being done to empower our educators and elevate student learning through our continued investment in technology. These achievements reinforce what we, as educators, have long believed: it is possible when we lead with purpose, vision, and a commitment to excellence,” Camacho said.
Presented by Anthology, the Catalyst Award recognizes organizations “committed to high-impact training initiatives.” Through its Educational Technology Training Program, ITDE has successfully trained over 1,200 educators. Funded by the federal Consolidated Grant, the program ensures equitable access to high-quality professional development for teachers across Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
Since School Year 2009–2010, when the PSS Federal Programs Office supported ITDE’s then-nascent efforts under the Distance Education Program, PSS has led in educational innovation. It became the first school district in the Pacific region to invest in one-to-one computing through the OneLaptop Initiative — a forward-thinking program aimed at equipping students with laptops to access digital resources and support learning.
Today, the program continues to empower educators with modern tools like Blackboard Learn, helping teachers confidently integrate technology into their classrooms to enhance instruction and student engagement.
Catienza credited the recognition to the collective effort of the entire PSS community.
“This recognition highlights the power of collaborative innovation. We could not have achieved this without the expertise of our EdTech team, our instructors, the support of our Federal Programs Office, district leadership, and the Board of Education. Our EdTech teachers are the backbone of this work—they share their knowledge and passion for empowering others,” she said.
In a separate honor, Dr. Riya Nathrani received the GenerationAI Luminary Award for her exemplary leadership in promoting the ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence in education. Nathrani has developed AI-powered tools to create localized, culturally relevant content for CNMI students. Her work supports multilingual learners, adapts instructional materials, delivers personalized feedback, and models responsible AI use in classrooms.
“AI is more than just a tool — it’s a way to close gaps and bring equity to education,” Nathrani said. “In our context, it helps us build content that reflects our students’ world while promoting critical thinking about accuracy and cultural relevance.”
Nathrani also facilitates professional development sessions for educators, emphasizing best practices in AI integration, fact-checking, and adaptable instruction for diverse learning environments.
With these national recognitions, the PSS ITDE Program has positioned itself as a leader in digital transformation and artificial intelligence integration in K–12 education.
For more information about the Anthology Catalyst Awards, visit www.anthology.com/.
To learn more about the GenerationAI initiative by ISTE-ASCD, visit www.iste.org/.
The Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program team of the Public School System led by Dr. Lorraine Catienza, seated center, received two national distinctions for education technology innovation and artificial intelligence integration.
Kevin Anthony De Torres receives the Catalyst Award on behalf of the PSS Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program and program instructors, staff and public education stakeholders.
Dr. Riya Nathrani, center, receives the GenerationAI Luminary Award.
