Mount Carmel School welcomes new teachers

As a way to strengthen the Catholic identity of the school, two priests have agreed to teach high school theology. Teaching Senior Theology is Fr. Ryan Jimenez, who is no stranger to the school, having taught at the school before and currently the Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. Joining Fr. Jimenez is Fr. Jason Granado, who is teaching Junior Theology. Fr. Granado is also the pastor at San Vicente Parish and the editor-in-chief of the diocesan publication, the North Star.

In the third grade, Bernadita Benavente Helstrom is teaching temporarily until September. Ms. “Bernie” herself is no stranger to the school either, having served as its first indigenous principal in the early days of the school while she was known as Sister Bernie. Since then, she has taught as a certified teacher in Nevada public schools and Catholic schools, having recently retired from public school education.

Along with Ms. Bernie in the elementary level, HeJin Lee will be teaching 5th grade. A recent graduate of Northern Marianas College’s School of Education with a bachelor’s of science degree in Elementary Education, Lee will be team-teaching her grade level along with fellow 5th grade teacher and 2007 MCS AlumKnight, Min Ji Han. This year marks Han’s second year teaching at her alma mater.

Junior high and high school English teacher John Del Rosario is also no stranger to the school, having graduated from Mount Carmel School in 2006. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Print Media/Communications from the University of Texas at El Paso, Texas, and spending time there as a freelance writer and magazine editor, this 2006 AlumKnight felt it was time to return home to help his alma mater. As he quipped, “LeBron [James] and I had a long talk. It was just right for us to both go back home, you know?”

The school also welcomed Michael Stromberg as a junior high and high school math teacher. Stromberg has taught several subjects all around the world, including English in Palau, Biology in Yap, English as a Second Language in South Korea, Business English in Vietnam, Math at NMC, and most recently, Literature and Drama at Saipan International School. Stromberg earned his bachelor’s degree in Math from State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, and his master’s degree in Mathematics from George Washington University in Washington, D. C.

Along with Stromberg, Hervin Jacinto will be teaching junior high and high school science. A registered nurse and former instructor in NMC’s Nursing program, Jacinto brings years of practical teaching experience that is already helping students gain a better grasp of science. Jacinto earned his bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Ateneo de Zamboanga in the Philippines and his Doctor of Medicine from the Zamboanga Medical School in the Philippines.

Lastly, while this is not her first year at the school, Ida Bahillo will be serving in a new role as the school’s vice principal for Student Affairs. With the enrollment increase, the school’s board of directors and administration determined that the school needed a school leader who would help and guide students and teachers with disciplinary matters and extracurricular activities. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of West Florida, Bahillo has taught at several schools in Florida, including the Santa Rosa County School Disctrict, Escambia High School, Pine Forest High School, and J. H. Workman Middle School. This year marks her second year at Mount Carmel School.

For a complete listing of all teachers, staff, and administrators at the school, visit www.mountcarmelsaipan.com. (MCS)