Amata Hosts American Samoa’s Teacher of the Year, Highlights Letters from Her Students

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata was delighted to welcome 2025 American Samoa Teacher of the Year Mikaela Saelua, accompanied by her parents, Rep. Fiu and Catherine Saelua, on her Teacher of the Year visit to Washington, D.C., where Mikaela hand-delivered nearly 70 letters from students aged 14-18 to Congresswoman Amata.

"It was a delight to have Mikaela and her proud parents visit my office, and especially her hand-delivery of letters from her many wonderful students, each telling me the important issue that they chose to focus on," said Congresswoman Amata. "I know Leone High School is proud of her achievement. Congratulations also to all students, teachers, parents, and alumni for the upcoming 60th anniversary of the school! Education investment is a permanent priority, and I will always support our schools, teachers and students."

The letters from students focused on all elements of their education and shared their ideas, with numerous kind letters thanking the Congresswoman and wishing her well; sharing their ambitions, hopes and goals; their desire to be part of helping American Samoa's future, and to meet with the Congresswoman; along with their desire for their voices to be heard, and sharing local or school needs or concerns such as littering and trash; school security; more and better maintained school buses, lack of transportation, need for better and safer roads on the west side, pot holes, the long time it can take to return home after classes, nearby traffic concerns, more street lights and traffic lights; problems of smoking, drugs, alcohol, fighting or bullying by students, vapes brought to campus, student sexual harassment, and the lack of local enforcement; more water fountains, better nutrition, and poor diet; the needs of the hospital, more doctors and nurses, and healthcare resources; preserving Samoan traditions and language; more dumpsters in villages; jobs should be based on merit and not family ties, integrity among workers and hiring; division or the need for unity among students; mental health of students, suicide prevention, and support for the youth; resources and quality school supplies, textbooks and computers for low income students; more scholarships more teachers, more bus drivers, and short-staffing concerns; better desks, the school buildings, air conditioning, and Internet access; buses dedicated to returning students home from after-school activities, and a casual day to allow time for students without spare uniforms to keep school uniforms clean.

"I am taking my time and reading these letters and I appreciate each one," continued Congresswoman Amata. "The enthusiasm, participation and civic-mindedness of our students are a credit to Mikaela's dedication and joy in teaching, as well as to their parents and other influences. Mikaela is our very deserving Teacher of the Year, and earned national recognition as a finalist for 2025 National Teacher of the Year, despite strong competition from every state and territory."

The prestigious CCSSO National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) program included winners nationwide from all the states and territories, then Mikaela's achievement as a finalist highlighted American Samoa in a very select group with finalists from Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

Mikaela teaches English to seniors, juniors and sophomores at Leone High School in the villages of Vailoatai and Leone in the Western District of American Samoa. Saelua holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Education in curriculum studies from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Her NTOY bio is available HERE.

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