CITING his deteriorating health, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada announced Wednesday that he had submitted his notice of resignation to the Board of Education.
The BOE, the policy and governing body of the Public School System, had yet to act on his resignation letter.
Ada said his resignation will take effect on Sept. 1.
“I had been hopeful that I would get better, that my health would improve and that it would not get the best of my desire to continue serving our Public School System,” he said.
“But lately, my failing health has affected my ability to take on greater responsibilities. With the support of my wife, children, other loved ones, and those who continue to believe in my desire to serve, I’ve decided to prioritize my health,” Ada said.
“Right now, it is the recommendation of my primary care physician that I step away from work and submit to a complete rest to be able to fully recover. Once I fully recover, I will return to serve this community in whatever capacity I am needed,” he added.
Ada was appointed commissioner by the BOE in Dec. 2019, succeeding Glenn Paul Muna who resigned “for personal reasons” in Sept. 2019.
“I still want to continue doing what I love most: which is to serve this community by sharing the knowledge I have with every child who comes to our public school so they can enjoy every opportunity that will make them hopeful for a better tomorrow,” Ada said.
Heart condition
Ada, 54, said he has been struggling with a heart condition.
In Aug. 2021, he was rushed to the emergency room of the Commonwealth Health Center for chest pain and was admitted for several days.
He was later referred to a California hospital. Following a second medical examination, it was recommended that he undergo an emergency quadruple heart bypass. The open-heart surgery took place in Sept. 2021.
Afterward, against the advice of his cardiologist, Ada returned to Saipan and immediately reported for work in Nov. 2021.
Both his cardiologist in the states and primary care physician on Saipan recommended that he take a one-year medical leave to fully recover.
Last year and this year, he was rushed to the hospital emergency room for manifesting symptoms that had led to his emergency heart procedure.
Ada will depart the island soon for another heart examination. For the past couple of days he said he had been working from home due to his deteriorating health.
Ada has served PSS for over 30 years now. He was a classroom teacher at San Vicente Elementary School; vice principal at William S. Reyes Elementary School; principal of Kagman High School; and literacy coach.
Ada is credited for providing stability to PSS during the pandemic.
The programs implemented under his leadership included the expansion of the Career and Technical Education Program, the Teacher Academy, the trades and culinary program, and the nursing assistantship program. All of these programs aim to expand the local workforce.
Ada, for his part, commended and thanked his management team and the community for continually supporting PSS.
Alfred Ada
