News Release

Manulele Teacher Assists National Park Education Program

Date: July 7, 2014
Contact: Michael Larson, 684 633-7082 ext 20

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Sixth-grade teacher, Quijano Taotua, from Manulele Elementary School has joined the National Park of American Samoa as its first Teacher-RangerTeacher. This six-week summer professional development opportunity provides place-based learning experiences and access to the resources of the national park for inclusion into classrooms. Taotua will work side-by-side with national park rangers to review its curriculumbased activities, develop activities for his classroom about the national park’s resources, and provide expertise to enhance the national park’s education program and services.

“We are fortunate to have Quijano join us for the summer to share his local knowledge and expertise as a teacher,” said Chief of Interpretation and Education Michael Larson. “He will be able to take his experience back to the classroom and share with his students the uniqueness of the National Park of American Samoa.”

Teacher-Ranger-Teacher is a National Park Service program for educators from kindergarten through 12th-grade to learn about national park education resources and themes. They also help to create a link between school children and national parks. The program is a partnership with the University of Colorado, Denver that administers the program and provides graduate credits to participants.

Each year, the National Park of American Samoa reaches as many as 5,000 students with free educational in-class activities and field trips. For more information or to schedule a program, contact the national park’s education program at 633-7082, ext. 22.
 

- NPS -