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House honors first SAES principal
San Antonio Elementary School’s first principal, Francisco Mendiola Sablan, is presented with a resolution by the House of Representatives last Wednesday for his many years of loyal service to the field of education in the CNMI. Handing him the resolution plaque is Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan) in front of Sablan’s family and supporters. (Mark Rabago)
With his family, friends, and supporters in attendance, Sablan thanked the 19th House of Representatives and the resolution’s author, Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan), for the honor bestowed on him.
One of the first people to congratulate the longtime educator was former House floor leader Ana Teregeyo, who was one of Sablan’s former students.
Sablan was SAES’ first ever principal and he held the post from 1971 to 1985. Prior to becoming principal of the San Antonio school, he taught at the Chalan Kanoa School and also served as teacher education supervisor assistant.
He also had a stint as a lawmaker in the Mariana Island District Legislature from 1966 to 1968. After his two-year service at the district congress, Sablan worked as director of Personnel Services for the Department of Education from 1968 to 1971. He returned to the same position after retiring from SAES from 1985 to 1987.
His educational background is as follows: Fingley School (now William S. Reyes Elementary School) from 1945 to 1952; Saipan Intermediate School from 1952 to 1955; Pacific Island Central School in Truk Islands (through a scholarship from the U.S. Navy) from 1955 to 1958; and extension courses at the University of Guam and San Jose State University.
Prior to taking the principal post at SAES, Sablan received a scholarship to attend the University of Hawaii’s School Administration for Principalship.
Sablan is married to Ana Palacios Sablan and the couple has eight children.
