Mr. Paul Cuaresma
In addition to teaching physics at Guam High School, Mr. Cuaresma also serves as Guam High School’s Science Department Chair, Chemical Hygiene Officer, Junior Science and Humanities (JSHS) sponsor, and Far East Academic Advisor. He has also coached numerous student researchers for Far East STEMinars since 2012 and the JSHS research competition since 2015. In 2020, one of his mentees won the Pacific Regional competition and presented their research nationally.
“The honor of teacher of the year represents the commitment, dedication, and grit that each of my fellow teachers and I go through every day to provide a safe, diverse and positive learning environment for our students,” Mr. Cuaresma said. “To be named the 2023 DoDEA Pacific West teacher of the year is a humble recognition of our efforts."
Mr. Cuaresma believes that all learners deserve equitable access to science learning. He achieves this by focusing on scientific modeling and investigation, providing students broad exposure instead of mastery of concepts.
“I enjoy the challenge of teaching students because it is simply fun,” Mr. Cuaresma said. “Working with students every day to help them develop life skills such as evaluating claims, designing investigations, modeling data, and communicating their arguments and solutions through academic discourse is entertaining. Attending frequent professional learning outside the classroom to improve my craft keeps my heart and mind refreshed, and teaching students keeps me engaged. I thank my students every day for allowing me the chance to practice the art of teaching and set higher goals every year.”
As a DoDEA teacher fulfilling the agency’s mission to educate, engage, and empower military-connected students, Mr. Cuaresma serves and supports service members and their families.
“Our job as teachers to our military-connected students is critical to the mission of the United States Department of Defense,” Mr. Cuaresma said. “Together with the rest of the DODEA educational system, we provide a safe and reliable environment to help the children of our service members maintain a stable environment to keep home life as optimal as possible. Our service members have a critical job to keep our nation safe, and we are committed to providing their children with the best education available anywhere in the world. I am proud to be a humble part of that system as a mentor our students can trust.”
Mr. Cuaresma holds a Master of Science Degree in Educational and Instructional Technologies from National University in California and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Science Education from the University of Guam.
