The CNMI Public School System announced its five Teacher of the Year finalists. KUAM News asked each of them what they enjoy most about the job.

Marylyn Tabuena has been an educator for four years and teaches 6th-grade math at Francisco M. Sablan Middle School. She said, "One thing I really enjoy about the job is, I also teach one of the most disliked subjects, which is math. And a lot of students come into my classroom already with that dislike ingrained in them. So, to see them come to like it a little bit more or finally understand the concepts that made math so not approachable to them really does make the teaching rewarding for me."

Patricia Muna is a second-grade teacher at Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School. She’s been teaching for 16 years, and said, "I really enjoy watching the students grow and thrive in their daily learning and just in their overall development. I also enjoy the interaction when students are working together, interacting with one another, building community, learning from one another, and it really comes to show that, their growth is very important. And it's fulfilling to me that their interactions in the classroom will will one day be something that they will do in their future."

Cristina Ruiz teaches 5th grade at Oleai Elementary School. She’s been an educator for four years. "My favorite part of teaching is seeing the students 'A-ha!' moments. I love to see their faces glow when they finally understand something. And it's just a very rewarding feeling," she said

Yeji Lee has been teaching science for 6 years at William S. Reyes Elementary School. She said, "Like many of my colleagues, I continue to be an educator because it's incredibly rewarding. And out of all, if I had to pick one at all, my favorite part would be working with students and seeing their successes. And I'm not just talking about their academic successes like test scores, I am talking their personal growth."

Darlene Aldan is an educator at Marianas High School and has been a teacher for more than two decades. She said, "One joy of being a teacher is seeing those moments when the students fully understand when they master a learning concept and they've mastered a learning skill that they have been using as they progress through their education and meeting former students who are part of the community…and knowing that I was part of that journey. Also, like I said, meeting former family members and knowing that, you know, being able to connect to them and letting them know that i'm going to be there to help and guide their child in their educational journey, that's the greatest part of being a teacher."