Previous Story
Three apply for vacant PSS Commissioner post
|
Posted on Jul 22 2008
[B]By KRISTI EATON[/B]
[I]kristi_eaton@saipantribune.com
REPORTER[/I]
REPORTER[/I]
A late applicant brought the total number of people applying for the position of Public School System Commissioner to three.
Debra Ellen turned in her application Friday afternoon, the deadline for submitting the paperwork, said acting PSS Commissioner Craig Garrison.
Ellen joins Ambrose M. Bennett, a former CNMI Board of Education teacher representative, and Rita Sablan, PPS associate commissioner for instruction, in vying for the position. Sablan was an earlier applicant for the commissioner position in 2006.
Human Resources will now start checking the applications to make sure they are complete, before they go to the board for review, Garrison said. The board will then set a date to conduct interviews.
BOE chair Lucia Linda Blanco-Maratita said the board hopes to have a replacement by Aug. 1.
Though the position was reportedly advertised in Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, three off-island applications received were incomplete. It was not immediately known whether the incomplete applications will still be considered, given the scarcity of applicants.
The Commissioner of Education reports to the Board of Education and is in charge of all operations for the Public School System.
The position of Commissioner requires a master’s degree in an education field and at least five years experience teaching or in education administration. Candidates are also required to demonstrate knowledge of school systems, proficiency in English, and be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in CNMI, according to the job vacancy announcement.
The salary for the full-time position is $60,000 to $80,000 with benefits.
In June, the Board of Education asked PSS Commissioner Dr. David Borja to resign or be fired.
Sablan sued three BOE officials in 2006 after she lost the position of Commissioner to Borja.
Bennett expressed confidence in his ability to perform the duties of the Commissioner. “I think I should be one of the best choices,” Bennett said. “I know that I’m a winner.” [B][I](with Caroline Lochabay)[/I][/B]
