Students participating in the Public School System-Career Technical Education Teacher Academy Summer Program at Northern Marianas College have expressed interest in pursuing an education degree after high school.
For the first time, the teacher academy, which is funded by the PSS-CTE Program, is being conducted by the NMC College of Education and is held on the college campus.
“So far, this has been a really good experience for me,” one of the 10 participating students said. “I am going to pursue a degree in educational rehabilitation with human services concentration.”
This year's Teacher Academy Summer Program is being held at the Northern Marianas College
On Thursday, CNMI Board of Education Chairman Andrew L. Orsini, BOE Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, PSS Curriculum and Instruction Senior Director Jackie Quitugua, CTE Program Director Dr. Jessica Taylor, and Accountability, Research and Evaluation Senior Director Dr. Rizalina Liwag met with the participating students at NMC.
“I am currently a junior student at Marianas High School,” one of the students told the education officials; “and this program is going to help me plan for my career choices when I graduate from high school.”
“I want to pursue a degree in elementary education,” said another student participant, adding that the Teacher Academy Summer Program has “helped me decide.”
Commissioner of Education Ada congratulated the participating students: “This is a life-changing program and career that you all have decided to be part of…and we are truly proud of everybody.”
He added, “We will make sure that we will continue to give all of you the necessary support in your career choices.”
BOE Chairman Orsini said PSS will continue to partner with NMC to ensure that public high school graduates can avail themselves of college and career readiness programs while still in high school.
BOE Vice Chairman Atalig said they will work toward securing more funding for PSS programs that can further expand the local workforce.