PSS hires 43 new classroom teachers

The Public School System has hired 43 classroom teachers this new school year and is in the process of employing more to fill vacant positions throughout the PSS.

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan said of the 43 classroom teachers, 33 are teachers hired from off-island, while 18 teachers were recruited from on-island.

All of them are classified as highly qualified teachers pursuant to the Board of Education policy that requires three requirements: degree, Praxis, and valid certification.

They are provided higher compensation based on the board’s policy. Their salaries range from $28,000 annually to up to $47,000 per year, depending on their credentials and qualifications.

According to PSS’ human resource office yesterday, PSS currently has more or less 575 classroom teachers

Sablan said from 20 positions that needed to be filled before the opening of public schools, HR said the number of vacant posts for teachers is now down to 15 positions, majority of which are educators needed for content areas.

Starting July 31, the U.S. Department of Education has barred the hiring of non-highly qualified personnel for all the school districts.

As a result, PSS terminated the services of teachers who were found not in noncompliance with this requirement.

Sablan proudly announced yesterday that CNMI-PSS was among the few districts that have met the requirements for school year 2011.

The commissioner said yesterday that besides the highly qualified teachers, PSS has also recorded a success in the highly qualified administrators and counselors mandates.

She also hailed the success rates achieved by individual schools in their accreditation status with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the remarkable changes in the campus environment as a result of the funding received for school renovation and modernization. All major repairs and renovations of schools were funded by the $32.4 million state fiscal stabilization fund awarded to PSS in fiscal year 2010.

Chacha Oceanview Junior High School principal Vince Dela Cruz yesterday said the system “has come a long way” in achieving the HQT goal. Chacha has 381 students when it opened classes last week and has 13 classroom teachers.

Other schools have the following teacher count: Marianas High School, 47 teachers; Garapan Elementary, 35 teachers; Saipan Southern High, 31 teachers; and Hopwood Junior High School, 44 classroom teachers.