Mikaela Saelua, who earned an MEd in Interdisciplinary Education from the Department of Curriculum Studies (EDCS) PACMED program, was named the 2024 Territorial Teacher of the Year by the American Sāmoa Department of Education. Saelua, who teaches 12th grade English, journalism, and year book at Leone High School, is the first teacher from her school in 15 years to be named Territorial Teacher of the Year.
“This confirms that I am exactly where I need to be,” Saelua said. “It also brings a lot of pride to our school. The award isn’t just mine; it is a win for the entire school and for my district. The amount of support I have received from the school and the Western District is so humbling and heartwarming, and I am proud to be from such a tight-knit community.”
With a bachelor’s degree in political science, Saelua had been teaching for five years before learning about the PACMED program and says she was excited to elevate her skills in education and gain new insights into her chosen profession.
“My experiences with PACMED confirmed for me that teaching is where I belong,” Saelua said. “Using a place-based model opened my eyes to the world of possibilities in terms of curriculum development that integrates our Sāmoan culture and environment into all content areas. I’ve also been able to integrate more pacific reading and literature into my English curriculum and use more STEAM activities in the classroom, which the students love!”
Saelua comes from a family of educators, including her father who is a veteran teacher, and they have all influenced her by modeling what exceptional teachers look like. She also attributes her success to her teachers and mentors, like her high school English teachers Ruby Ripley and Pualani Pulu, as well her PACMED mentors Dr. Deborah Zuercher and William Thompson.
PACMED is a Master of Education (MEd) degree program in the Department of Curriculum Studies with a focus on culturally responsive, Pacific, placed-based STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics)
