Ms. Cecilia Paris-Tuionoula, originally from the island of Mindanao, Philippines, holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB). She was also a National Science Development Board Scholar and pursued a Master of Science in Microbiology at UPLB, though she made the life-changing decision to relocate to Samoa in 1983 to join her Samoan husband, leaving her studies just four credits shy of completing the degree.
Ms. Tuionoula’s teaching career began at the Secondary Teacher’s College in Apia, Samoa, where she served as a Lecturer in Agricultural Science for 5 ½ years. She then joined the National University of Samoa as a Lecturer in Biology for University Preparatory Year program students. In 1992, her family moved to American Samoa, where she began working at South Pacific Academy as a Mathematics and Science teacher for middle school students. Over time, as South Pacific Academy evolved into a PreK-12 school, she took on the role of teaching high school Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Science.
Ms. Tuionoula earned her Master of Education in Curriculum Studies from the University of Hawaii in Manoa in 2014. She also holds PRAXIS II certification in General Science and Biology, and a Basic Teaching Certificate from ASDOE. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of mentoring students who excelled in the American Samoa Science Fair and Science Symposium competitions. Her dedication has led to multiple opportunities to chaperone students to the Pacific Symposium for Science and Sustainability in Hawaii and to mentor students at the International Science and Engineering Fair, with trips to Los Angeles, Pittsburg, and Phoenix.
In 2021, Ms. Tuionoula briefly taught high school science and elementary math at Manumalo Academy. After caring for her late husband, she returned to teaching high school science at South Pacific Academy. She is most fulfilled when hearing of her former students’ success, believing that the true reward of teaching lies in seeing her students thrive in their careers and contribute to their community and the world.