2024 Territory Teacher of the Year is Marcella Fitisone

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Education’s Teacher Quality Office Division announced the 2024 Territory Teacher of the Year winner yesterday, October 4, 2024, as well as the 2024 Regional Teacher of the Year and two others as the 2024 Teachers of the Year.

The four teachers are the finalists of a five month elimination Teachers program based on criteria organized by a committee of 15 from the DOE-TQO.

2024 TERRITORY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Assistant Director and National Teacher of the Year State Coordinator, Ms Labourday Atanoa along with Faafetai Tasha Atioo, Chair Steering Committee/ Assistant Director Elementary named the winner of the 2024 Territory Teacher of the year — Marcella Fitisone.

Ms Fitisone is 28 and is from Lepuapua Leone. She currently teaches at Tafuna High School. She’s been there for about seven years now, she told Samoa News, adding that she has no words to describe her feelings, but she is overwhelmed.  

“Being a teacher is challenging and very rewarding, some of my first students have graduated and some are continuing with their education on island while some have joined the Armed Forces.

“Teaching can’t be done alone; I rely on my family and partner.”

She is grateful for the opportunity and support from everybody, school, family, and everyone whose been very kind to her throughout this process.

Ms Fitisone is aware of her responsibilities that come with being the winner, which includes representing the Territory at the National Teachers of the Year competition and professional development.

The winner of the 2024 Territory Teacher of the Year, says she “went through the competition, where you had to win at your school level, then you had to win it in your Regional level, and then at the Territory level — since May 2023, it’s been an ongoing process.”

2024 REGIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

The first runner up to the 2024 Territory Teacher of the Year has been named the Regional Teacher of the Year — Ms Valasi Ah See. 

Ms Ah See is 35, the oldest of her parent’s four children, from the village of Fagaitua. She is a graduate of Fagaitua High School, Class of 2007, and has been a teacher for the 8th grade at Laulii Elementary since 2017.

Being a teacher for seven years, her first set of students are now in senior classes she said, and are still in touch with her when needing help.  Some are at VocTech and Samoana High School, and some of them have taken up leadership roles in their schools.

Ms Ah See is happy with the salary she’s earned as a teacher, and she has no intention of changing professions, as she sees the need for teachers locally.

She’s grateful for the opportunity given by the government, in a lot of ways, like her degree, and “professional development to excel in this career.”

Ms Ah See is also thankful for her understanding husband, parents, co- workers at school who have all contributed to her success at school.

Assistant Director of the TQO Division, Ms Atanoa also named the two Teachers of the Year — they made it to Tier one of the competition.

“One is from MidWest, and she is from Manulele Elementary, Ms Nellie Stowers.

“Next school Teacher of the Year is from the East side, Aua Elementary, Ms Kuuipo Rocha.”

Ms Atanoa also said the program will hold a final celebration for the Teachers of the Year, “when the whole department comes together, all the teachers that won, all the teachers that made the program, their families, husbands, friends and the whole department of Education — to celebrate.”

She announced the date of the celebration:  December 15,  2023.

SELECTION PROCESS

Ms Atanoa explained the selection process for each tier of the competition was done by two committees — a steering committee and a select committee.

The steering committee comprises Ms Atanoa and her TQO and also leaders of the Department of Education (DOE).

“There are 15 of us, including two of our ADOE and have a Chairperson, that we select,“ she said.

But all decisions are made by a committee that’s under the supervision of the two Assistant Directors of the DOE.

The second committee — the Selection team is handpicked from the community-at-large, all have education backgrounds.

“One from our Faith, one from the Federal Government, one from the ASG Government, one from the American Samoa Community College- ASCC and one from the Business Community.

“Those five people, come in, and we train them on the process they’re going to use, as they are the ones to select the Territory Teacher of the Year.”

“The community (at-large) selects the Territory Teacher of the Year.

“They rate teachers from their portfolio, and tally their scores accordingly, so as going out to the schools to observe the teachers while teaching and interview them.

She explained that the schools have their own Teacher of the Year committee, who decide on the teacher. There are 23 Elementary schools and 6 Secondary schools in American Samoa.

The Teacher of the Year Program only caters to the government schools, “we align everything according to the National in affiliation with the National Teacher of the Year,” Ms Atanoa concluded.

The four winners of the annual Teacher of the Year competition sponsored by the Department of Education in affiliation with the National Teacher of the Year organization. The DOE announced the 2024 TTOY, the 2024 RTOY and the two recipients of the 2024 TOY awards. This year one elementary teacher was chosen, while the other three are high school teachers. They are seen seated, while their supporters and members of the DOE- Teacher Quality Office Division, as well as the Selection Committee and Steering Committee are standing. [photo: AT]