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In Memoriam: Dr. Rita Hocog Inos, EdD

Rita Hocog Inos: A Regional Educator

By Hilda C. Heine, EdD

Few people leave positive impressions on so many people in so many places, across so many languages and cultures. Dr. Rita Hocog Inos was that unique person who impacted many—colleagues, friends, and families—on so many levels and in so many exceptional ways.

Dr. Inos’ passing left a big hole in the hearts of her dear and beloved family—her husband Chris, her daughters Denise and Blossom, and her granddaughter Elizabeth. Jamie Mitte, a longtime colleague at Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) and friend of Rita from Hawai‘i said, “there are no words to do justice to her life and being… . For those of us who have known and have been a part of her life, nothing will ever be the same.” 

Rita also left incredible first impressions on and lasting distinctive memories with many Pacific educators from American Samoa, Chuuk, Guam, Kosrae, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, Yap, and her beloved CNMI. If ever there was a devoted regional educator, Rita was it. She was concerned not only for the children and communities of Rota and the CNMI, but equally strove to see the Pacific children across the region flourish and be empowered through education. In the same vein, Rita was committed to building capacities of Pacific educators, parents, and communities.

Building capacities of regional educators and communities was a hallmark and a legacy that Rita left behind. As Commissioner of Education for the CNMI, she did an exceptional job instituting reforms that bore positive student achievement results. As a regional leader of education and through her work at PREL, Rita sought to contextualize research-based school improvement processes, such as the Onward to Excellence program for the Pacific educators and communities. How she impacted fellow regional educators is captured here:

It was through Pacific Region Effective and Successful Schools (PRESS) that I learned of Rita's passion to improve the quality of education for our Pacific children by building the capacity of our local leaders. She always reminded us to honor our community leaders: our cultural leaders, our ministers, our parents, and everyone that contributes toward educating our children. She realized that there were "stateside ways" and "island ways" of doing things, and that we must not neglect to honor our culture as we implement stateside programs and ideas.

~Donna Gurr, Assistant Director, American Samoa Department of Education, Office of Curriculum, Instruction & Accountability

Rita is one of the pioneers in modern times to promote regional education improvement initiatives. She has left her mark well, and we are indeed grateful for all she has done. She was a wonderful person, and I hope her many contributions will be captured and promoted particularly through the younger generations and those to come.

~Marie Maddison, Director, Republic of the Marshall Islands National Training Council (RMI NTC) and former Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI) director and PREL liaison

Rita’s role in reviving interest and value in indigenous languages and cultures was significant, as well as contagious, both in the CNMI and regionally. Her work in her own CNMI to address issues surrounding bilingual education and to revive the Chamorro and Carolinian languages are well known in the CNMI. On that, Dr. Elizabeth Rechebei of the Committee on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) in the CNMI shares her thoughts:

I believe our people in the CNMI benefited much from [her] generosity, kindness, enthusiasm, commitment, and deep understanding on the importance of protecting, promoting, and enhancing our cultures and languages… her role in the dictionary project has opened and enhanced our ability to partner and collaborate with many organizations. Her experience and working relationships with so many individuals and agencies in the CNMI reflect her great personality and ability to work well with everyone…. Her positive outlook on things has been an inspiration for me.

Regionally Rita helped spearhead language and cultural movements that are embodied in such regional institutions as the Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association (PIBBA), which includes members from each of the Micronesian culture and language groups. She was also an active member of the Rethinking Education in Micronesia (REIM) group and of the Commission on Education in Micronesia (CEM), which seek to promote and integrate indigenous cultures and languages in school curricula and process in Micronesian schools.

Rita was just as generous with her heart, time, and resources to everyone she met. In PREL’s early days, when many Micronesian educators would come to Hawai‘i for sponsored professional development activities, Rita would take them under her wing and make them feel comfortable at PREL and in downtown Honolulu. Juanita Rilometo of Pohnpei and Evelyn Jospeh of the RMI made these comments about their unique experiences with Rita that reflected her personal generosity:

I first met Rita in early 1992 when the Math/Science Consortium was established at PREL. Feeling a bit lost, we (the Micronesian M/S folks) ran into Rita during the lunch hour. She came and hugged each one of us, saying, ‘Come, come, I know the best place to eat! Lets all go eat together, and you can tell me what's happening in the islands!’ I remember her bubbly laugh and constant smile from then until now.

~Juanita Rilometo, PREL, Pohnpei Service Center

                Rita left an incredible first impression on me that remains to this day. She was not only smart, but  a true advocate of education for Pacific children. You never had a dull moment if Rita Inos was around. She had a way of making you laugh and feel comfortable.

~Evelyn Joesph, PREL, RMI Service Center

Destin Penland of PREL’s Palau Service Center had this to say about Rita: “She was an education visionary who was instrumental in defining the mission and purpose of PREL.”  Indeed, throughout her career, Rita’s heart never left PREL. Those of us who worked in the PREL Honolulu office recall with smiles, sometimes teary eyes, gentle admonishments from Rita. She meant well and wanted to make sure we were all sensitive to PREL clients’ varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Rita was very proud of her heritage and took every opportunity to share that with others. Everywhere she went, she shared a piece of the CNMI culture. On her frequent visits to PREL’s Honolulu office as Commissioner of Education for the CNMI and Chair of PREL’s Board, she would bring goodies from the Marianas Bakery, as well as other indigenous delicacies from her beloved Rota. We in the office knew Rita was in town, as she would burst into PREL with her infectious laughter, bringing with her the unique smell of baked goods.

A former PREL support staff member for Rita, Zee Oshiro of Hawai‘i, commented on her own experience with Rita:

            …my life changed, as I was groomed and mentored by the smartest woman I would ever know—someone who was my inspiration, my mentor, my “mom”—there aren’t enough words to describe all that Rita was to me. She encouraged capacity building, allowing me—a support person—a valuable opportunity to attend the Pacific Educational Conference (PEC) and even to conduct a workshop in the region! She taught me the meaning of family, culture, and commitment to work… she was always concerned, and wanted to ensure that the work PREL did was always for the well-being and advancement of the kids—the Pacific children. It was always the kids.

Rita was a cheerful and spiritual human being. Her achievements in education and in her personal life are quite impressive. She was a true friend, a mentor, and a role model for me personally. She recruited me to work at PREL and encouraged me to seek a doctorate in education. What professional achievement I have gained, I owe to Rita. I will truly miss her advice and counsel. Jera, kejparok wot! Jenaj bar lo iok.

I end this homage to Rita with Farther Jim Croghan’s prayer:

Wow, one more shining star looking out for the children of the Pacific. Let's make sure we honor Rita's memory and give the children the education they deserve and need.

In Memoriam

After her long struggle with cancer, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos, a long time leader within Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), member and chair of PREL’s Board, and Commissioner of Education in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), is now at peace. She passed away at the age of 55 on Saipan, Monday, August 9, 2009.

Dr. Inos was born and raised in Songsong, Rota. She devoted her life to education in the Pacific, where she began her career in 1972 as a bilingual teacher in Rota and Saipan schools. Dr. Inos worked at PREL from 1990 to 1994 as the Director of Programs and Services and was the Deputy Director of the PREL Western Pacific Center from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2005, she served as the Commissioner of Education for the CNMI Public School System and was on PREL’s Board of Directors. She served as the chairperson for PREL’s Board from 2004 to 2006. In February 2006, Dr. Inos was appointed to the Northern Marinas College (NMC) Board of Regents and served as its chairperson from 2006 to 2008.

Dr. Inos, who published various articles on education, obtained her doctorate from the University of Southern California, her master’s degree in school administration and supervision from San Jose State University in California, and her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts (Bilingual Education) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

 Excerpts taken from:

Marianas Variety News

Saipan Tribune
Guam Daily News

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