"I realized how culture and traditions have influenced learning and how important it is to link learning in the culture and from traditions to formal educational learning development."

Hometown

Utwe, Kosrae, Micronesia

Department

Curriculum Studies

Related Degrees

• MEd, Educational Administration: K-12

What have you been doing since completing your doctoral program?
I have been serving as Principal of Utwe Elementary School, helping teachers with professional development activities, including training towards teacher certification, teaching pedagogies, and lesson planning. I have also been Chairman of the School Improvement Team (SIT), facilitating the development of Utwe Elementary School’s improvement and revisions on yearly action plans for the school.

How did the MACIMISE* program help to prepare you for your new role as Director of Education?
With MACIMISE, I had close acquaintance with parents of preschool children and elders of the village or community. Together, we discussed activities young children are engaged in in their homes and in the community and how these have relations and connections to early mathematics and language learning development.

I also had the opportunity to look at the history of education curriculum development and review current education standards. I realized how culture and traditions have influenced learning and how important it is to link learning in the culture and from traditions to formal educational learning development.

My sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the university, PREL, and most especially to MACIMISE. I will continue to seek support from the MACIMISE family and to strengthen ties with all service providers for the Department of Education.

What will your position as Director of Education entail?
This is a new post, so there will be some challenges; however, I am excited to bring the entire department together to build strong teamwork and overcome roadblocks in education for the benefits and success of all children.

What are your future plans?
I will help with the education system in Kosrae for four years while continuing with regent work  for the College of Micronesia-FSM. I wish to sometime work for the National Department of Education, helping with education programs for all schools in the FSM.

*Mathematics and Culture in Micronesia: Integrating Societal Experiences (MACIMISE) was started by the late Professor Emeritus A.J. Sandy Dawson and continues today. Its aim is to increase the mathematics learning of elementary school students in eight Micronesian island groups by utilizing learning experiences embedded within each of the island communities (ethnomathematics).