ASCC Teacher Of The Year Shares Her Insights
By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer, Monday June 9th 2004
During the Spring 2004 graduation ceremony last month, the American Samoa Community College the recipient of the 2003-2004 Teacher of the Year Award, designed to recognize teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty in service to their students and to the College as a whole. While singling out one individual from the College’s hard working staff proved no easy task, a selection board ultimately decided upon 22-year ASCC veteran, English Language Institute chairperson and Service Learning coordinator Mrs. Elisapeta Fa’alafi-Jones as the College’s Teacher of the Year.
When asked to share her teaching philosophy, Mrs. Fa’alafi-Jones, expressed the following insights: "Teaching is a gift from God, and teachers must believe that they are called to equip others. Because the human being consists of soul, spirit and body, teachers need to provide quality knowledge to enhance the students’ intellectual growth, to assist and direct them in positive spiritual paths and to provide assistance to accommodate their physical needs. With love and faithfulness, teachers can fashion students’ lives to become well-rounded individuals, who will later impact the lives of others."
Her highly spiritual approach to teaching reflects her background as the daughter of missionary parents. Her mother and father, Reverend Samuelu and Launiusaelua Fa’alafi, founded the first Methodist church in Elisapeta’s birthplace of Laulii-tuai, American Samoa. While still a young girl, Elisapeta moved with her parents as they followed their calling to ministries in Upolu and Savaii. Receiving her early education in both Samoas, Elisapeta graduated from high school in New Zealand, then returned to the islands in 1971 to rejoin her parents in Savaii and take a teaching post at Uesiliana High School.
Over the next several years, she taught at the Methodist High School in Faleula, Upolu before returning to Tutuila in 1976 to work first at Fa’asao High School, then at Samoana High School. During her three years at Samoana, Elisapeta enrolled in the Department of Education/Brigham Young University Bachelor’s degree program, which she completed in 1979.
The following year, she joined the Teacher Corps program, a joint venture of the University of Hawaii, ASCC and DOE that enabled teachers in American Samoa to work on a Masters Degree in Secondary Education. Doing a double major in the fields of Curriculum & Instruction and English As A Second Language, Elisapeta received her MED in August of 1981, the same month she signed-on as an instructor at her professional home for the next 22 years, ASCC.
For the last 14 years, Elisapeta has headed the ASCC English Language Institute, which provides services to students with English challenges and prepares them for college degree programs and/or the work force. She also took on the duties of establishing the Service Learning Program at the College, now in its fourth successful year. Through Service Learning, students earn credit and gain firsthand experience by directly serving members of the community. Some examples include students participating in reading programs for disadvantaged children, volunteering at the LBJ Hospital and making visits to provide companionship and assistance to the elderly residents of Fatu O Aiga.
Since they adopted the program in 2000, several participating ASCC faculty have shared their experiences at nationwide Service Learning conferences on the mainland. As Elisapeta tells it, "Our Samoan culture, which is established on services, has contributed to the effectiveness of the Service Learning Program. ASCC presentations at Service Learning conferences provide opportunities for our local faculty to share some of the unique traits in the Samoan culture that encourage and develop learning outside of the classroom."
In the midst of heading both the ELI Department and Service Learning at ASCC, Elisapeta also serves as a member of the You Are Not Alone Committee, a coalition of administrators, teachers and students who work closely with the young men and women attending ASCC to support them in their social activities and offer counseling when they have personal problems. Off campus, she takes part in the weekly community reading program at the Community Christian Church, which serves children who for one reason or another cannot enroll in the local school system. "We read to Tuvaluan children, Nauruans, Gilbertese, Fijians and Rotumans," she says, "and even some palagis and Samoans."
When asked how she maintains such an extraordinary level of activity, and what advice she has for other teachers, Mrs. Faalafi-Jones once again references her spiritual beliefs. "Don’t worry about the evaluations of man and the earthly rewards," she says, "but be concerned about God’s judgments on your daily duties, and desire God’s heavenly rewards, for they are eternal. Remember, teachers are severely judged and punished by God, for we are called to build and nurture lives with love."
Mrs. Faalafi-Jones also wishes to acknowledge and congratulate the other nominees for this year’s Teacher of the Year Award: Art instructor Mrs. Regina Meredith-Malala, Ms. Okenaisa Faulolo of the Social Sciences Department, Mrs. Repeka Nuusa of ELI, Math instructor Mr. Kuldip Shegrill and Mr. Faitolo Ueligitone of the Business & Accounting Department.