Galvin quits NMC post; named new Mt. Carmel president

Dela Cruz was president of Mt. Carmel School for 12 years. She recently stepped down for personal reasons.

Because of his new appointment, Deleon Guerrero resigned from Northern Marianas College, where he serves as director of institutional effectiveness and accreditation liaison officer.

He assured, however, that he will continue to help and support the college’s completion of its comprehensive self-evaluation study, which is due in August.

Deleon Guerrero’s appointment was announced by Fr. Ryan Jimenez, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. Jimenez assured of a smooth transition to the new president.

“Mr. Deleon Guerrero is a Knight through and through. For many years, Galvin worked well with Mrs. Dela Cruz while she was the president, whether as principal, director of institutional development, drama advisor, and speech and mock trial coach. We are confident that this transition will be smooth and seamless,” said Jimenez.

Joseph LG. Taijeron, chairman of the Mount Carmel School board of directors, expressed appreciation and support for both Dela Cruz and Deleon Guerrero.

“We are grateful to Mrs. Dela Cruz for her years of service to the school and we are excited to have Mr. Deleon Guerrero on board. Galvin is a product of the school and has proven his commitment as a prominent educator and as a Knight,” said Taijeron.

Mount Carmel alumni are referred to as Knights.

No stranger to the school, Deleon Guerrero attended Mount Carmel School from first through 12th grade, graduating in 1991 with honors and the Governor’s Leadership Award and the Bishop’s Award. Known by many as “Mr. G,” Deleon Guerrero returns to the school with almost 20 years of experience in education. After graduating in 1996 with his bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Puget Sound, Deleon Guerrero worked at Mount Carmel as a teacher, vice principal, and director of institutional development until 2003.

From 2003 through 2005, Deleon Guerrero served as a special assistant to then governor Juan Nekai Babauta, assisting primarily with education policy. In 2005, he returned to the school as its principal and went on to earn his master’s degree in Catholic School Administration from the University of San Francisco. He served as principal until 2009, when he moved to NMC where he has been the director of institutional effectiveness and accreditation liaison officer.

Deleon Guerrero has also served on numerous education-related boards, including NMC’s Board of Regents, the Northern Marianas Council for the Humanities, the Northern Marianas Arts Council, and, since 2008, the Public School System’s Board of Education. He has also been very active in advising and coaching Mount Carmel’s Theatre Club, Mock Trial Team, and AG Cup program.

“I am very humbled by this privilege to lead our island’s only Catholic school,” Deleon Guerrero said. “Despite the many challenges we face, I look forward to building on Mrs. Dela Cruz’s legacy as we prepare our students to become competitive yet humane participants in the 21st century global marketplace.”

As for his departure from NMC, Deleon Guerrero said, “I remain committed to helping the college prepare its 2012 Comprehensive Self-Evaluation Report for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges due in August.”

Deleon Guerrero will transition from his current work at NMC to Mount Carmel over the summer, gearing up for the opening of classes on Aug. 9.