Exercising Your Voice in Government Presented by: Donna Gurr, Assistant Director American Samoa Department of Education Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability

How many of you would like to see changes in our government? i.e., Change in our schools, our hiring practices, the way our senators are elected… Raise your hand if you would like to see some kind of change in our government. Turn to your neighbor and share the kind of changes you would like to see occur in our government.

How many of you are willing to do something to bring about the change you desire in our government? Raise your hand if you are willing to do something to bring about change in our government.

What have I done in my career to bring about change in our government? Served as a Classroom Teacher --Christa McAuliffe, teacher-astronaut: “I touch the future, I teach.” --My Philosophy: Each child is gifted and talented; it is up to the school-community to bring out the unique gifts and talents each child possesses.

Promoting Change in our Schools… Established the first Teacher’s Resource Center in the Department of Education;

Promoting Change in our Schools… As a Vice-Principal/Acting Principal: established one of the first five kindergarten classrooms in our public schools; served as one of the first five kindergarten teachers.

Promoting Change in our Schools… As an Elementary School Principal, worked with the school-community to bring about change. --It takes a village to raise a child (Old Native American proverb)

Promoting Change in our Schools… In my current role as the Assistant Director of Education, Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability, worked with staff to— Develop content standards and benchmarks with aligned standards-based assessments (moving on to the Common Core State Standards); Work with committees to adopt curriculum materials aligned to our standards; Provide on-going professional development to schools in all content areas throughout the year; Work collaboratively with intergovernmental agencies to promote educational programs for our students and parents; Coordinate Territorial Competitions throughout the year….etc., etc……!

Challenges Faced in Advancing and Gaining New Skills Not expected of me to acquire a college degree; My mom passed away while I was pursuing my Master’s Degree; Homesick when I moved away from family; Learning to accept rejection to new ideas, and learning to not give up (for our children’s sake!).

Advise to Young People Pursuing a Career in Government Obtain your degree; Gain job experience off-island before returning home; Return home to serve your community; Be a dedicated and honest government employee; Go the extra mile: volunteer; share your expertise with others.

How many of you are willing to do something to help bring about change in our government, business, and/or community? Turn to your neighbor and share what you have done or what you plan to do to make a difference at work or in our community. Write down your pledge (I pledge to make a difference in our government, business, and/or community in the following ways). Place your paper in the envelope provided; do not seal it if you want it to be read. You will have an opportunity to win a door prize at the end of my presentation.

Conclusion It is not necessarily the big things we do in life that make a positive impact on our government, business, and/or our community; it is often the small things that we do each day that influence positive change in our island community.

Door Prizes! (compliments of Island Flowers by Liana) Draw pledges from unsealed envelopes; Read a few pledges.