Pangelinan is KagES’ outstanding teacher of the year

 Kagman Elementary School has named first grade teacher Lee S. Pangelinan as its most outstanding educator, giving her the honor of representing the school in the Public School System’s search for the CNMI Teacher of the Year next month.

This is Pangelinan’s first time to be recognized as a Teacher of the Year since joining KagES in December 2006.

She said the unexpected honor is a testament to her dedication and commitment to schoolchildren and shared how her own children inspired her to become a good educator.

“I became a mother at a very young age and because of my desire to really help my child, I took some classes at first so I could teach my child on my own. Since then, I found joy in doing it. I can say they are my greatest inspiration,” she said.

The encouragement she got from an aunt, herself a former educator, added to her interest in pursuing this career.

Pangelinan obtained her bachelor’s degree at Northern Marianas College and completed her master’s degree from Framingham State University after two years.

Being a teacher, Pangelinan said, requires passion and commitment. The smiles and gratitude she gets from students every day is “very rewarding.”

“Just by seeing their successes-from the day they enter the classroom until the time they exit-is truly fulfilling.because you know in your heart that they learned something from you and you impacted their lives,” she said.

This year, KagES’ Teacher Aide of the Year is Francisco K. Arurang, who has been with PSS for 21 years, the first 10 spent at Hopwood Junior High School where he was named the Teacher Aide of the Year in 1994. Prior to joining Kagman Elementary, he also served San Antonio Elementary for a year.

“It feels great to be selected,” he told Saipan Tribune yesterday, adding that the recognition serves as an added motivation for him to do better on his job. Arurang is assigned at the school’s special education program where he attends to at least five students. His ultimate goal is to see all children with special needs acquiring life skills and becoming independent.

This father of three believes that “patience, understanding, and commitment” are key to achieving success in any job.

KagES conferred its Support Staff of the Year award to Eladia Muña, the school’s custodian for five years now. Muña was the recipient of the same award in 2008.

The 48-year-old employee first served the school as a volunteer, being one of the members of its PTSA. She recalls a scene in 2005 when she saw school principal Ignacia Demapan cleaning the school’s restrooms. “From that day on, I was inspired and motivated by the school principal.the reason I volunteered for some months just to help clean the campus.” A year later, she finally joined the KagES family.

Louie Bautista, who has been a school aide for six years now, was named the Administrative Staff of the Year. This is his second time to be chosen for this award, the first time in 2008.

Named Instructor of the Year is Toyoko Chen, who is assigned at the CCLHS program for seven years now. She was once hailed a Teacher Aide of the Year in 2003 until she obtained her certification and rose through the ranks. This is her first award under the Instructor of the Year category.

Hailed as Counselor of the Year is Daniel Basaldua who has been serving KagES for three years and is a first-time awardee.

Principal Demapan commended all the school’s education awardees, describing them as truly deserving of the honor. KagES was once listed as among the turn-around schools of PSS and Demapan believes this would not have been possible without the valuable contribution and hard work of these employees.

Kagman Elementary is home to 28 teachers and 560 students from kindergarten to sixth grade.