Allen wins Chacha Oceanview Teacher of the Year honor

Chacha Oceanview Junior High School has chosen language arts teacher Terra Allen as its Teacher of the Year, together with six other education awardees who are being honored this month for demonstrating excellence in their professions.

Allen will represent her school in the statewide competition and, if selected, will have the opportunity to vie for the national title and will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Barack Obama.

“I was very honored and humbled to receive this recognition. As teachers, we do not get enough feedback and recognition for our work from the outside prospective. We get feedback from our students daily, but we have a thirst for recognition from our fellow teaching community and administration. As a professional, I feel it is important to be told when I am making progress and being effective. Receiving this award reminds me that people other than my students are aware of my impact. I felt even more empowered to educate!” Allen told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Allen obtained her elementary education degree from Boise State University in December 2007. She started working for the Public School System in August 2009 as a reading resource teacher for sixth to eighth graders. She currently teaches language arts to seventh graders.

The Teacher of the Year plum is her first teaching award from PSS.

Allen said it has always been her dream to share her knowledge with students.

“I love the creativity involved in teaching. I think the best part about teaching is my love for children. I love working with kids in a challenging and rewarding environment. I am also motivated by the positive experiences in school and the extraordinary teachers I will never forget,” she said.

Students are the most enjoyable part of her job. She said she loves their innate curiosity and desire to learn. “They make me smile and continue to help me grow daily,” she said.

As a teacher, Allen said that learning is never-ending. “I learn something new every day. I really cannot account for all of the amazing things I have learned in the last few years, but I have learned the importance of patience, compassion, and how to be a good listener in my classroom each and every day.”

Other awardees

Hailed Teacher Aide of the Year is Gerald Agulto, a dedicated employee of Chacha Oceanview for the last 12 years. He started as teacher aide for Kagman Elementary School’s special education program in 2000 and moved to Chacha Oceanview in 2003. This is his second time to be given the award, the first time in 2009. Agulto said it was his desire to better help and understand his son that inspired him to pursue a teaching career.

Adjudged Support Staff of the Year is Maria Angelita Amog, who has been with the Chacha Oceanview family since 2009. Amog, a mother of two, is the school’s administrative officer. The first-time awardee was recognized for her untiring service to school employees and students. Amog is also the school’s time-keeper, filing clerk, accounting assistant, and administrative secretary.

Carmen Sablan was named the school’s Counselor of the Year. She started in 2004 as a classroom teacher. A year later, she became a counselor and has already been recognized twice—in 2009 and 2010—for her dedication to her profession.

The Librarian of the Year honor was conferred on Nathaline Kaneshi, who has been an employee of the school since 2009. Every day, she attends to the library needs of about 40 students. Kaneshi was instrumental in the establishment of the Book Lovers’ Club to promote reading awareness among students. Kaneshi is a first-time awardee.

Chacha Oceanview selected Mollie Atinisom and Ignacio Celis as its Instructor of the Year and Maintenance of the Year awardees respectively. Atinisom is assigned at the school’s leadership corps program and has been with the school since 2007. Celis, meantime, has been serving the school since 2002 and has been selected thrice for the honor.

Chacha Oceanview Junior High principal Vince Dela Cruz said the school is blessed with dedicated employees who go beyond the call of their duties.

“You can never have enough good staff. These are very good people and we are blessed to have them onboard. They have been with the system for many years and really work well with students. Our awardees have primary duties but they go beyond what is required, we’re truly proud of them,” he said.

Chacha Oceanview is home to 354 students and 35 employees, including 12 classroom teachers.