Caption:ASCC Teacher Education and Training Department chairperson Dr. Lina Galea'i-Scanlan (fourth from
left) is seen here with faculty and students who hope to make a difference in the Territory's schools. The department recently developed a "Teacher's Creed" to aid future American Samoa teachers. (Photo: J.
Kneubuhl)

            The Creed, developed b Dr. Sala, sets forth seven philosophical principles to guide future teachers. Rather than laying down a set of rules, the Creed instead encourages values such as tenacity, responsibility, the recognition of diversity, the pursuit of excellence, decorum, respect, and the upholding of high standards. (See full text below.) “Because we feel it encapsulates some of the most important principles related to the profession, we plan to circulate the Creed among all new and continuing Teacher Education majors,” said new TEDT chairperson Dr. Lina Galea’i-Scanlan, who also extended special thanks to Mrs. Alofagia Nomura for translating the Creed into Samoan. About 20 Teacher Education majors and invited Liberal Arts majors attended Dr. Sala’s talk, along with Dr. Galea’i-Scanlan and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Irene Helsham, Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i, Admissions Officer Mr. Jim Sutherland, and LEA’A President Mr. Sione Patau.

            This semester, Dr. Galea’i-Scanlan began as TETD chairperson after former Chairman Tupua Roy Fua moved over to the GEAR-UP program as its director. Dr. Galea’i-Scanlan, who recently completed her PhD in Education from Capella University previously spent a number of years at ASCC as a member of the English Language Institute (ELI) staff. For Dr. Sala, familiar to many as the former president of the local chapter of Common Cause, her appointment as an adjunct TETD faculty marks a return to ASCC, where she previously served as Director of Administrative Services.

            Asked to describe her personal goals for the TETD, Dr. Galea’i-Scanlan reflected, “I plan to continue to the great work that former Chairman Roy Fua set in place within this department, and to recruit more young people and adults to the profession of teaching. This will entail going out to the high schools and talking about the great program we have to offer here at ASCC. In addition to that, I’ll try to ensure that we provide the best instruction for our young people taking our courses in order for them to make an impact in our classrooms.” She added that she hopes the Teacher’s Creed will inspire all Teacher Education majors that way it has inspired her.

            The Teacher’s Creed in full reads as follows: “I accept the challenge to be sagacious and tenacious in order to teach every student in American Samoa because I believe that every student can learn.  I accept the responsibility to create a learning environment conducive to optimum achievement academically, socially, and emotionally. I recognize diversity among us as residents of American Samoa and the cultural heritages that exist in our classrooms. I actively pursue excellence for myself through preparation in a teacher education program. I will become a model of decorum and respect that will serve as a guide for my students as well as honor them and myself. I will affirm the highest expectations for my students and myself and uphold educational standards set by the laws of my community.
            I AM A TEACHER. I will cherish every student. I will change the world, one student at a time.  Ma le fa’aaloalo lava, FA’AFETAI!”

(Samoan translation) Ou te talia le lu’itau e sa’ili le atamai, ma  ia taofi mau i mataupu ua a’oa’oina ai a’a; ia ou a’oa’o atu I tama ma teine a’oga o Amerika Samoa.
Ou te talia o lo’u tiute e fofoa ma fa’avae ala e silisili ona lelei, aua le a’oa’oina o tama ma le teine, ia le gata I mataupu ese’ese, o le mafaufau ia Mataala, ae maise le amio tausa’afia.
Ou te tinou ia avea a’u me fa’ata’ita’iga ole le amio lelei ma le fa’aaloalo. Ia avea ia ma ta’iala mo tama ma teine, ina ia o latou maua le feavata’i ma le galue fa’atasi.
Ou te galue punoua’i ma le fa’amaoni, ina ia aeae tama me teine a’oga uma, e tusa ai ma Tulafono fa’alea’oa’oga, ae maise agaifanua fa’aleatunu’u.
Ou te iloa e ese’ese tu ma aganu’u i totonu o potu a’oga, ona o le ese’ese o tagatanu’u o lo’oalaala i Amerika Samoa. Ou te talitonu e mafai ona a’oa’oina i so’o se tama po’o se teine.
O A’U O LE FAIA’OGA! Ou te ofaofa I a’u tama ma le teine a’oga. Ou te mana’o ia suia le lalolagi, ona o la’u tautua.
I lo’u fa’aaloalo tele. Fa’afetai!

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