2024 Year in Review

As we reflect on the past year, PREL remains deeply committed to our core vision of strong schools, healthy communities, and thriving cultures with Pacific hearts and global minds. This commitment is at the heart of the Board and staff’s work as we strive to enhance community well-being through partnerships in education, and thanks to your collaboration, we have made meaningful strides towards this vision in 2024.

From launching new youth programs to expanding community-school partnerships, it’s been a year of growth, learning, and shared success. As we celebrate the season, we are filled with gratitude for your continued support and look forward to greater opportunities in the year ahead.

Dr. Judith Won Pat
Interim Executive Director, PREL

PREL welcomes our newest Board members: Dr. Patrick Leddy (center) and Mr. Glenn Mendoza (right), pictured with current board members Mr. Vic Angoco, Dr. Judith Won Pat, and Dr. Mary Okada (not pictured: Dr. Patrick Tellei and Mrs. Jacqueline Quitugua).

Organizational Highlights

American Samoa

PREL supported the American Samoa Department of Education through multiple technical assistance efforts focused on equity, continuous improvement, educator development, and addressing the needs of public school libraries.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

PREL facilitated the development of CNMI PSS’s new strategic plan, worked closely with PSS to design and implement the new accountability and strategic performance management systems, and supported the development of resources to strengthen CNMI's Career & Technical Education programs.

Guam

PREL worked with the Guam Department of Education to continue Conscious Discipline, a professional development series focused on strengthening social and emotional learning and trauma-informed practice, serving over 500 early childhood educators over the past 5 years.

Hawaiʻi

PREL collaborated with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education on community-school partnerships; newcomer services; social studies standards revision; and addressing chronic absenteeism among Micronesian students. PREL also helped over 100 educators earn credit towards TESOL sheltered instruction qualification through CRSI courses.

Marshall Islands

PREL supported all levels of education through collaborations with the RMI Public School system on educator effectiveness, workforce development with World Bank, early grade numeracy and literacy with Asian Development Bank, and place-based STEM education with Waan Aelõñ in Majel and the National Science Foundation.

Chuuk

PREL supported Chuuk Department of Education in its strategic planning and performance management journey, creating student-focused goals and assisting in the development of performance measures, budget alignment, and coaching teams to monitor progress, while also supporting CDOE staff through education finance training.

Kosrae

PREL collaborated with Kosrae Department of Education, community elders, and partners like Kosrae Historic Preservation Office to bolster STEM and place-based learning, in schools through the Indigenous Learning Recovery (ILR) program and out of school through TASIK. PREL also supported KDOE is developing a high-quality teacher induction and mentoring program.

Pohnpei

PREL worked with the Pohnpei Department of Education to developing their teacher induction and mentoring program, and brought STEM and place-based learning to schools through ILR and into community with TASIK and Conservation Society of Pohnpei. PREL also collaborated with FSM National Department of Education and UNESCO on a baseline study of neurodiversity.

Yap

PREL partnered with Weloy Youth & Sports Organization through TASIK to explore STEM through local technologies, and partnered with Yap Department of Education on a new technology plan framework and developing their teacher induction and mentoring program.

Palau

PREL supported the Palau Ministry of Education in building capacity for transformational instruction by analyzing data, engaging school teams, and developing 90-day action plans aligned with school accreditation to drive continuous improvement.