Northern Marianas College education majors Annel Ligaya and Jonas Metran recently joined the long list of NMC students who passed the Praxis II exam. The Praxis II assesses an educator’s knowledge in a specific subject area or grade level that they will be teaching.
“We congratulate Annel and Jonas and wish them the best of luck on their journey to become educators,” NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, said.
Students enrolled in NMC’s education program are required to pass the Praxis II before completing the program. Education majors with a focus in Early Childhood Education must pass the Praxis II Education of Young Children exam, while those with a focus in Rehabilitation & Human Services must pass the Praxis II Professional School Counselor exam.
In addition, education majors with a concentration in Special Education must pass the Praxis II Special Education: CK and Applications exam, and students with a concentration in Elementary Education must pass the Elementary Education Content Knowledge exam.
“Annel and Jonas are exemplary students and I have no doubt that they will soon become excellent educators in our Commonwealth,” NMC School of Education director Roland Merar said.
Ligaya, an Early Childhood Education major, said her primary motivation for pursuing a bachelor's degree in education is to help create a better and brighter future for the Commonwealth.
“I hope to educate children to be environmentally conscious, passionate, kind, and hard working individuals who may someday make positive and impactful contributions to the CNMI community,” Ligaya said.
According to Ligaya, NMC played a key role in her preparation for the Praxis II exam. She also attributes her success to her family and friends, as they motivated her to continue studying and preparing for the exam.
After graduating from NMC, Ligaya hopes to work for the CNMI Public School System’s Head Start Program.
Metran, who is an Elementary Education major, said that he wants to become an educator so that he can make a positive impact on students' lives.
“I want to encourage students to look forward to learning, both academically and in their day-to-day lives,” Metran said.
Like Ligaya, Metran also acknowledged that the College helped him with his test preparation as he was able to avail of free Praxis prep courses.
His plan after finishing his studies at NMC is to teach in any of the schools on Saipan.
For more information on NMC’s education program, visit www.marianas.edu.