Dr. Rita A. Sablan is an experienced educational leader in public education in early childhood, elementary and secondary, including special education and special programs.

Dr. Sablan received her Bachelor in Science in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska and proceeded to San Jose State University in San Jose, California where she received her Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision in 1983. In 2008, she received her Doctoral in Educational Leadership with emphasis in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from the University of Phoenix: School of Advanced Studies. 

Having been with the Public School System (PSS) for more than 25 years, Dr. Rita A. Sablan has worked in just about every sector of PSS. Her journey began as a teacher at Garapan Elementary School in 1982 and after 2 years of classroom instruction she then became a principal for the next 7 years.

Dr. Sablan was an instrumental part of the development of PSS’s Youth Advisory Panel and the Parent Advisory Panel.  In 2008, the Commissioner established the Comprehensive Systems for Building Local Capacity which was made to develop a pool of local teachers and personnel.

In August of 2008, Dr. Sablan became the Commissioner of Education and became the Chief State School Officer for the CNMI Public School System.