SAIPAN — The Public School System is paying tribute to two long-serving educators, Jackie A. Quitugua and Dr. Rizalina G. Liwag, who have stepped down after decades in the CNMI school system.
PSS said Quitugua retired Dec. 30 as senior director for Student Support Services, and Liwag departed the district the same day as senior director for Curriculum and Instruction.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho said the two leaders “witnessed the foundation beginnings” of PSS and helped carry the system forward through changes and newer challenges.
PSS said Quitugua leaves with a 44-year career in education and is known for work spanning curriculum, instruction, assessment, teacher training, data management, parental involvement, and community engagement. She taught in Guam for seven years, joined PSS as a classroom teacher in Rota (1972–1973), later returned to the classroom (1983–1984), served as an education specialist (1984–2006), then held leadership roles including associate commissioner (2006–2020) and senior director (2020–2024).
PSS said Liwag served a little over 30 years and began as a classroom teacher at Sinapalo Elementary School in Rota (1995), taught there for eight years, then taught at Koblerville Elementary School (2003–2008). She later served as principal of Koblerville Elementary (2010–2017) and Hopwood Middle School (2017–2020), then moved into district leadership in 2021 and served as senior director for the Office of Accountability, Research, and Evaluation until 2024.
