A DAYLONG professional development session was held Friday at the Pacific Islands Club by the Public School System’s Federal Programs Office, Finance and Budget Division, Procurement and Supply, and Human Resources Office.
Close to 50 employees participated in the training session titled “Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement.”
“We will continue to support all of you and provide you with tools necessary for the seamless operation of our schools so we can maintain a high level of service to our stakeholders,” acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna told the training participants that included the heads of the school system’s critical divisions — Federal Programs Office Interim Director Jacqueline Che, Finance and Budget Director Arlene Lizama, and HRO Director Lucretia Borja Deleon Guerrero.
“This training is basically to bring together all these critical departments and provide the staff with professional development to be able to sustain our ‘continuous improvement culture,’ ” Deleon Guerrero said.
The HRO director said the training aimed to further improve their “efficiency and effectiveness” in the delivery of services to public education stakeholders.
“This also addresses the recommendations of our external auditors to continue professional development and maintain…our internal controls,” she added.
Audits conducted by an external auditor in previous years cited PSS’s “strong financial management” and recommended continuous training of staff.
The training on Friday included teambuilding activities that aimed to help participants meet daily challenges and find solutions to improve their operation.
PSS Finance and Budget Director Arlene Lizama said the school system continues to invest in the growth and learning of its personnel.
“I cannot be more proud of these teams — Finance and Budget, Procurement and Supply, Federal Programs and Human Resources — you provide what is needed,” she said in her remarks. “You all work hard, and you understand the urgency of what is needed.”
Federal Programs Office Interim Director Jacqueline Che said the training was about “cross-departmental collaboration, boosting employee morale, building efficiency in several ways, including creating efficient workflow by identifying strengths and areas for improvement, which in turn will help ease stress and allow for improved and better services.”
Che said the training also helped build trust and camaraderie among PSS’s critical divisions and departments.
“The training underscored how important it is to communicate and maintain an efficient flow of information so we can continue to put our students first,” she added.
Since 2019, PSS, under the leadership of Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, has continually invested in the professional growth of its personnel to support student learning.
Officials and employees of the Public School System’s Federal Programs Office, Finance and Budget, Procurement and Supply, and Human Resources Office pose for a photo with acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna, right, prior to the start of a day-long professional development session called “Building A Culture of Continuous Improvement” at the Pacific Islands Club on Friday.
Acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna, right, addresses officials and personnel of PSS’ Federal Program’s Office, Finance and Budget, Procurement and Supply, and Human Resources Office.
PSS Finance and Budget personnel participate in a team-building activity.
Finance and Budget as well as Procurement and Supply personnel identify their strengths and weaknesses in a team-building activity.
The team-building activities were designed to help training participants further improve the services they provide to public education stakeholders.
Federal Programs Office personnel identify their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss how they could further improve quality of their services.
Finance and Budget, Procurement and Supply, and Human Resources personnel discuss areas where they can collaborate.
Procurement and Supply personnel identify areas they need to improve.
PSS federal, finance and procurement personnel shares their thoughts during a break from the professional development session.
Interim Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline Che listens during the professional development session.
Finance and Budget Director Arlene Lizama, right, talks about the importance of teamwork and collaboration in the delivery of public education services.
