PSS honors 37 private, public partners of Cooperative Education Program on Saipan for accepting 123 high school interns
(PSS) — Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho and Public School System-Cooperative Education Program Coordinator Brandon Nicholas led PSS in honoring its private and public sector partners that help prepare public high school students for the workforce.
The “Co-Op” was pioneered on Saipan by its oldest public high school, Marianas High School, in 1971. It has grown since then and became a PSS-wide program in 2013. The program was also expanded to integrate classroom instruction with supervised on-the-job training for public high school students on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
The Co-Op consists of cooperative education, which occurs on campus, and cooperative training, which occurs off campus. Through the program, students learn how to apply classroom concepts to real-life, experiential learning.
Since it became a district-wide initiative, the number of private businesses and government agencies signing up as partners has increased. The federally funded program is now one of the single largest sources of employment training for public high school students.
Opportunities
Commissioner of Education Dr. Camacho on Thursday told 123 high school Co-Op students on Saipan that he was also a beneficiary of the program.
“I was once like you are now. I worked through all day, and it opened up opportunities for me,” he said during the PSS Cooperative Education Program partners appreciation event at Kensington Hotel.
“I was a bagger boy, a gas attendant, an intern at the former Nikko Hotel, and moved to Duty Free Shoppers as an inventory staff member — I benefited from participating in the program.”
He added: “Employers opened doors for me so I could step into this world of employment while I was still in high school. I was combining my academics with workforce experience. And the people that I was working with were coaching and guiding me, mentoring me. All these were very valuable to me, and our Co-Op Program made it happen.”
Camacho praised the 37 participating private companies and government agencies for “adding value” to the learning experience of public high school students.
“Thank you partners for helping us make it happen to our public school students — the children of the CNMI. Thank you for being part of the students’ learning process, for adding value to their academic life by letting them experience how it is to be part of the workforce sector.”
Recognition
Camacho and the Co-Op program coordinator presented special plaques of recognition to the program’s partners: 500 Sails/ 500 Sails Boatyard, American Memorial Park, Cha Café & Bistro, Commonwealth Cancer Association, Commonwealth Law Revision Commission, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Coral Ocean Golf Resort, Delta Management – Shell Marianas, Department of Public Safety, Gold’s Gym, Hafa Adai Roasting Company, Herman’s Modern Bakery, Hyatt Regency Saipan, IT&E-CNMI, Java Joe’s, Joeten Enterprises, Karidat Social Service, Kensington Hotel, Koblerville Elementary School, Latte Built Fitness, LP Accounting, Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, Northern Marianas Housing Corp., Pacific Islands Club, Pacifica Insurance, Paradise Dental Spa, PHI Pharmacy, Plumeria Steakhouse/Ete Café, Law Office of Robert T. Torres, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Saipan Southern High School, Saipan World Resort, Salt and Barber LLC, Tasi to Table, and Torres Refrigeration Inc.
Celebration
Co-Op Program Coordinator Nicholas said it was a record-breaking semester for the program.
“We have a full venue, and this is not by accident. Today we celebrate the end of a record-breaking semester for the Co-op Program. Roughly over 120 students train at over 35 private and public sector companies and agencies on just the island of Saipan. If we include our neighboring islands of Rota and Tinian, our numbers jump to over 200 students at over 70 different training sites. This is a win for our islands and a win that we can all celebrate together,” Nicholas said.
“With more students comes the possibility of more successes and, of course, more challenges. I am extremely grateful to have a strong team of teachers that handle the front lines at our schools and do everything they can to ensure that each of our students do their hours, submit their documents and get paid. We’re more than a class, and these professionals exemplify what it means to go above and beyond,” he added.
Nicholas expressed his program’s appreciation to its “foundation” — the classroom teachers who continually make it happen: Andrew Golden of Saipan Southern High School, Fred Salavaria of Kagman High School, Kristina Torres, Eun Benavente and Christine Acbo of Marianas High School, Joan Torres of Da’ok Academy and Susan Pajarillaga of Grace Christian Academy.
“I often…tell…our students during my initial visit that there are always more Co-Op jobs than there are students, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to use that catchphrase this time around. Fast-forward to now, and we have industry professionals from over 35 public and private companies and agencies present to celebrate another successful semester of partnership. Thank you!” Nicholas said.