SINCE the departure of Dr. Nerissa Underwood, the Guam Department of Education’s leadership has been in the hands of an interim superintendent for almost one year. Yesterday, the Board, after several false starts, completed the process and decided on Mr. Jon Fernandez as GDOE’s next superintendent of education.

Congratulations to the Guam Education Board in selecting a well-deserved candidate for Guam education’s highest position. Moreover, I would like to congratulate Mr. Fernandez in offering to take the helm of GDOE and steering it towards what I am hopeful will be progress and proficiency.

The great experience that Mr. Fernandez brings back to Guam is grounded in his love and appreciation for this island where he was born and raised. With his outstanding achievements and experience both academically and professionally, the potential for GDOE to flourish under his leadership is expected. I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Fernandez during his time on Guam when he worked with my office while still continuing his education. I have continued to follow his career upon leaving to pursue his academic goals and I am appreciative of his commitment to his island and his people.

It is important that the superintendent of education have a willingness to work collaboratively with the Guam Legislature. Last year, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Guam Legislature, I prioritized GDOE’s FY2012 budget above and beyond the government of Guam’s budget to illustrate the Guam Legislature’s prioritization of education. What the Committee did was pass a standalone bill to appropriate the funding necessary to allow the schools to function without fear of a shutdown or layoffs.

I created the Education Financial Supervisory Commission (EFSC), which is a group consisting of the directors of Administration, Bureau of Budget Management and Research, and the Guam Legislature Office of Finance and Budget; and the Public Auditor of Guam, along with the superintendent of education and the deputy superintendent of Finance and Administration as ex-officio members. This EFSC provides the structure for everyone to bring to the table the commitment to collaboration and cooperation amongst GDOE and the Executive and Legislative branches of government in support of finances for GDOE.

I believe Mr. Fernandez has demonstrated the ability to work in collaboration with multiple parties in very complicated and high stress environments. I look forward to him applying these skills in gaining support across borders in the education of our youth. It is with this belief that I am certain that the future of Guam’s education agency is in good hands. Only with cooperation and collaboration, regarding properly funding education to the levels that are sustainable to the government of Guam, can we truly achieve the goals of educating our youth.