ASDOE
OFFICES
ASDOE Federal Grants
This page provides essential information about the American Samoa Department of Education Federal Grants Office. We are currently located in the second story of the Lumana'i building in Fagatogo. The focus of our office is to develop, manage, and implement grant programs to ensure that all deliveries are met in accordance with the programmatic and fiscal requirements of the grant from the funding agency in accordance with the scope of the grant. The requests to use all federal grant monies starts from our office. The forms necessary to complete all requests are provided on this page, including the internal protocols for all project leads to adhere to. Currently, we are handling the following federal grants - Consolidated Grant; Education Stabilization Fund I & 2; and the American Rescue Plan Act.
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Business
The business office within the Department of Education plays a vital role in ensuring the efficient operation and financial stability of the department's educational initiatives. Its functions encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including budgeting, financial planning, procurement, payroll management, and accounting. The business office collaborates closely with various stakeholders, such as schools, educational institutions, and government agencies, to allocate resources effectively, manage expenditures, and maintain transparent financial reporting. By upholding sound financial practices and strategic decision-making, the business office contributes significantly to the Department of Education's ability to deliver quality education and support the growth and development of students and educators alike.
Equity & Compliance
The ASDOE Equitable Services Office is committed to ensuring the benefits of public education extend to all students, with a special focus on correcting the under-education of students from different cultural backgrounds and students from low-income families. We pursue this work by informing, influencing, and inspiring education leaders, and through developing our staff as leaders for equity – maintaining a focus on diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our operations.
In an equitable education system, all individuals can attain sufficient knowledge and skills to contributing members of their communities. Personal and social identifiers such as gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, language, disability, citizenship, religion, and/or income are not obstacles to accessing educational opportunities; the circumstances children are
born into do not predict their access to the resources and rigor necessary for success.
Finance
Our Finance Team proactively supports ASDOE’s vision and mission by collaborating with our internal and external stakeholders to monitor our budget efficiently and manage financial resources effectively to productively provide a cultivated education for our territory’s student population.
Financial Aid/Scholarship
The financial aid/scholarship office within the Department of Education holds a crucial role in expanding access to education and fostering academic excellence. By diligently administering financial aid programs and scholarships, this office empowers students from diverse backgrounds to pursue higher education and realize their academic aspirations. Through careful evaluation of financial need and merit, the office helps alleviate the financial burden on students and their families, making education more attainable and equitable. By nurturing a supportive environment for both applicants and recipients, the financial aid/scholarship office not only transforms individual lives but also contributes to the development of a skilled and educated workforce, ultimately bolstering societal progress and prosperity.
J.R.O.T.C
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character
development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916
established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. In 1964,
Congress expanded the program to all military services and changed from active duty to shared
support from the services and schools. As congressionally mandated by Title 10 United States
Code, Section 2031, each military service must have a JROTC program to “instill in students in
United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United
States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.” JROTC’s mission, “To
Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens”, is the guide post for the program’s success.
The American Samoa Multiple Schools Unit (ASMSU) JROTC program currently operates in
five public high schools. The U.S. Army JROTC program was first established in American
Samoa on 4 April 1979 at Samoana High School. With the addition of Leone High School,
Tafuna High School, Faga’itua High School, and Manu’a High School, the program quickly
expanded to its current state. The program now has an average enrollment of over a thousand
cadets/students per year.
Personnel
The Personnel Office handles a variety of critical functions that help meet the needs of the Department’s leadership and its employees. This office is responsible in organizing, maintaining and securing a record for each employee in the department. Each record contains a personnel action form and an effective letter; other documents include increments, promotions, reclassification, resignation, retirement, etc.; any personnel action that occurs within their employment while in the department. Additionally, this office works collaboratively with other ASG departments in the acquisition, development and retention of the human resources necessary for the success of the department. The two main particular goals of this office are to assist the leadership in achieving the department’s goals and most importantly to see that each employee receives a paycheck.
Private Schools
The goal of the American Samoa Department of Education Private Schools Office is to serve and provide equitable services to the students and teachers of fourteen (14) private schools. Our office works collaboratively with the department’s Federal Grants Office in managing and monitoring the grant funds in the purchase of instructional & technological materials, implementation of student activities and projects, and the compensation of teachers. There is a combined effort with our office and the school principals and/or project leads in the implementation and adherence of the internal protocols to ensure that the planning, execution, monitoring and completion of projects is done accordingly and to the guidelines as stipulated in our Consolidated Grant and other funds such as ESF and ARPA.
Technology Integration
How important is technology in education? To ensure an effective learning environment, our Technology Integration Office offers different trainings to increase student engagement. With technology integration it can create more inclusive learning environments that foster collaboration and enables teachers to collect data on student performance. The promise of technology integration lies in what educators do with it and how it is used to support every student's needs.
Quality Assurance
The Quality Assurance Office (QAO) was formerly known as the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and Special Projects Office and was established in June 2020. We are located on the 2nd Floor of the Lumana’i Building in Fagatogo. Our Division Head is Mr. Esekielu T. Foleni. He is also the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for ASDOE. We have five Compliance Officers: Mrs. Mata’itusi Marshall, Mr. Lemapu Suani, Mr. Vili Fa’ate’a, Mr. Iosefo
Vitolio, and Mr. Enele Ta’atasi. Ms. Toreka Galu is our Office Clerk.
We provide the following services to all public schools in Tutuila and Manu’a:
** School Building Construction Inspections,
** School Health & Safety Inspections,
** School Landscaping/Campus Inspections,
** American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Inspections, and
** Disaster Preparedness Liaison and Assistance.
O.A.S.I.S
Office of Accountability & School Improvement System
Student success stems from excellence in the schools. Under the supervision of the Director of Education, the Office of Accountability and School Improvement Systems (OASIS) was established in 2021 and provides oversight and accountability monitoring of all 29 public schools and divisions. Some key responsibilities are to ensure the appropriate & effective programs are being taught; systems to manage and monitor student data and school performance; and oversight monitoring is regulated to guarantee positive student outcomes. In addition, the promotion of a collaborative working relationship with the divisions, schools, and all key stakeholders to facilitate and advance the ASDOE Initiatives, Consolidated Grant projects, and 5YR Strategic Plan.