A volunteer, teacher, and a leader

Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler

As one of the newest addition to the 22nd CNMI Legislature representing Precinct 5, Rep. Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler (D-Saipan) operates with the goal “to do the most good and leave our place better than we found it.”

That means her heart has always bent toward service to the community and that got started when she was fresh out of Willamette College Oregon in 2001, when she accepted a job as an art and English teacher at the Tinian Jr. Sr. High School, her alma mater, from 2001 to 2007. She then moved to Saipan and worked as an English teacher at Kagman High School until 2010.

“I really loved teaching because I truly felt like I could change someone’s life through education. I took a leap and became the KHS vice principal in 2010 when I had just been voted as the KHS Teacher of the Year that year. I felt that if I could do so much for the 120 students in my classes, imagine what I could do for the whole school!,” she said. “I took on the responsibilities of instructional coach, teacher mentor, PRAXIS support, AP program director, disciplinarian, super substitute, problem solver, facilities manager, and the list goes on.”

In 2013, Staffler became the KHS principal, where she took on the added roles of instructional leader, event planner, transition process coordinator, Student Council adviser, disabilities advocate, principal representative, program innovator, and so much more.

After almost 13 years in public education serving the KHS and Kagman communities, Staffler thought about scaling up her service that will affect more lives in the community. “My goals have always been to give back to my community. As a recipient of the 7-32 full scholarship, that was always an expectation that was drilled into me since high school. The way I have given back to my community has changed over the years, depending on my ability to give,” she said. “As a young person, I volunteered time and energy to help my community and the environment. As I have gotten older, I began to be the one coordinating volunteer activities for youth. I learned through my experiences and research how important it is to build connections in our community through volunteer work and for several years, I worked to embed the value of volunteerism into the culture of graduating seniors at CNMI public high schools. Today, as an elected public servant, my goals still rooted in giving back to my community through volunteerism and access.”

As chairperson of the Committee on Education and Workforce in the CNMI House of Representatives, Staffler said she is “super motivated.”

“I am motivated by the call of our people and community to make a difference for the future of our Marianas. I am motivated because I truly feel like the CNMI could be a model of progress and efficiency through interagency collaboration and long-term planning,” she said. “I am still far from accomplishing some personal goals but I know I will get there one day and I am where I need to be for now. My formula for success would be to always be your best, don’t procrastinate and always read the directions—a shout out to my former students! (laughs).”

In the first six months of 2021, Staffler plans to establish routines, conduct outreach and gather feedback and input for all things coming through the pipeline at work. According to her, these foundations support the Democratic values of accountability and transparency. This will be further reflected in the 22nd Legislature’s rules and operating procedures.

Staffler believes that restoring public trust in government can be achieved through transparency, accountability and open communication. Also, she is guided by the twin principles of “doing the most good,” which was coined by Evangeline Booth, the humanitarian leader of the Salvation Army in the 1930s; and “Leave this place better than you found it”—the guiding principle shared with her cohort of the Pacific Century Fellows, as stated by former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann.

“These principles highlight volunteerism and public service in a way that I try to live and hope to impart on people who work with me,” she said.