Dandan school hails Cabrera as its best teacher for 2011

 A young mother of five, Elaine Cabrera wakes up early with a smile on her face, excited to prepare the things her children will need for the day. Before 6am, she makes sure everything is set prior to going to the place she calls her second home, the Dandan Elementary School.

She said it was her own children who inspired her to pursue a degree in education.

“I already had three kids when I decided to go back to Northern Marianas College. I tried the teaching course because I wanted to help my own children. At first, I thought I may not enjoy it.but after my first practice teaching session, I realized that it was what I wanted to do,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Cabrera’s dedication to her 18 students in first grade has won her the approval of her colleagues, who chose her as this school year’s Teacher of the Year and their school’s representative to this month’s search for CNMI Teacher of the Year.

Cabrera joined the Tottotville family as a classroom teacher in March 2008.

Prior to joining the Dandan school, Cabrera had several job experiences in the private sector-jobs that she said didn’t bring her fulfillment. “It was like punching in and punching out every day, waiting for the 5pm schedule. When I am home, I didn’t think about it. But now I can say I’ve never been this busy in my life and yet it makes me feel proud and fully satisfied. I guess this is what I’ve been searching for all my life,” she said.

Besides her busy classroom schedule, Cabrera also handles after-school activities such as the reading program, the performing arts program, and the wellness program. She is also a consistent volunteer for other extra-curricular activities. Saipan Tribune learned she is among the very first and the last one to leave the school every day.

“This job is not about the paycheck. Sometimes you work 24/7, mostly for volunteer work. You often stay late in school because you’re making sure that you are prepared for the next day. But because you have the passion and the heart to your job, you always feel the satisfaction and joy after each day of hard work,” she said.

In her classroom, Cabrera’s students are barred from saying, “I can’t do it.” She said it is her philosophy to build in every student the confidence they need, even as early as first grade.

“[The first grade level are] the building blocks. If you don’t do it now, students will suffer in their second, third, and fourth grades. I am building a good educational foundation of our students. The first grade level is an important determining factor for a student’s success,” she said.

For Cabrera, the 7- to 8-hour instruction in school each day is not enough for all the things she wants to teach and impart to her class. There are among the challenges she faces in her profession, as well as the sometimes large class sizes. Lack of full parental support for children is another. “We, as teachers, have to find better ways to supplement that.”

The first-time awardee said that one of the greatest lessons she has learned from her students is having a positive outlook and attitude in life. “I learned to laugh a lot from my students. I learned that it’s better to be curious because I believe that if they don’t have the curiosity, they don’t have the passion to learn.”

Other awardees

Named Teacher Aide of the Year is Jemma Manibo, who has been with the school system for five years. She started as a teacher aide for William S. Reyes Elementary in 2006, then moved to Dandan school in 2007. This is her fourth year at DES and her first time to be recognized. She is assigned at the school’s Troops-to-Teacher program where she provides assistance to classroom teachers. Manibo also helps coaching the school’s scholastic sports and spearheads the DES technology program.

Honored by the unexpected recognition, Manibo shared the award with her colleagues and students. Manibo said that she first took the job in order to pay her bills. But as time went on and, with the help of other teachers, “they made me change my opinion about teaching, which for me is the most rewarding career anyone could have.”

Manibo is a reserved military personnel and is currently taking online courses so she could become a full-time teacher.

Hailed Support Staff of the Year is Cathy Borja, an employee for three years. She was first selected as Support Staff of the Year last year, when she also bagged the overall PSS-wide title.

Prior to her employment in Dandan, Borja was a long-time parent volunteer. She officially joined the Tottotville family as its librarian aide in 2008.

Borja serves as DES’ “jack of all trades” due to the numerous hats she wears in school. “I love helping kids and it is my goal to see them growing and succeed. I want to make a difference in their lives,” she said.

This mother of four is also a full-time student, taking courses in education to fulfill her dream of becoming a regular classroom teacher.

Fifty-four-year-old Abel Valenzuela is DES’ Maintenance of the Year, his sixth time to be honored with the award in his 21 years of serving PSS.

Valenzuela first served PSS in October 1989 at its central office. After 10 years, he moved to DES in 1999 under the same position and this marks his 11th year with the school. In 2006, he also bagged the PSS overall Support Staff of the Year award.

According to DES principal Martha Kintol, all four awardees truly deserve the honor and she is thankful for their unconditional support and dedication to the students. “They all go beyond their duties and responsibilities every day. We are so proud that they will represent us in the statewide competition,” added Kintol.

DES is home to 413 students and 33 employees.