Gardenia Aisek Explained

Honorific-Prefix:	Honorable
Gardenia Aisek
Order:	Secretary of the Department of Education (Federated States of Micronesia)
Term Start:	October 2021
President:	David Panuelo
Predecessor:	Kalwin Kephas
Alma Mater:	National University (California)

Gardenia Aisek (former surnames Walter and Macayaon) is a Microneasian educator and government official. Aisek was the first woman elected to the Chuuk State Legislature.^{[1] [2]} She then became the first female Secretary of the Federated States of Micronesia Department of Education.^{[3] [4]}

Background

Aisek has a Master of Business Administration degree from National University (California).^{[5] [6]} She has taught at the College of Micronesia and the Northern Marianas College. While at Northern Marianas College, she became the Director of the School of Business and Hospitality.

From 1997 to 2005, Aisek was the First Lady of Chuuk State when her then-husband Ansito Walter was Governor.^{[5] [7]} During this period, Aisek was the first woman to be a member of the Board of Regents for the College of Micronesia.^[8] Aisek also helped her brother run their family business, the Blue Lagoon Resort, which is located near the Kimiuo Aisek Memorial Museum named after their father.^{[9] [10]}

Government career

Aisek became the first female Director of the Chuuk State Department of Education, and retained the role from 2010 to 2014. During her tenure, she led an education reform effort until she was controversially fired by the Chuuk Board of Education.^[11] Aisek sued for wrongful termination.^[12]

In 2017, Aisek became the first woman elected to the Chuuk State Legislature, having won by a wide margin. While serving in the state senate, she was a delegate to the Association of Pacific Islands Legislatures.^[13] In 2021, Aisek was sworn in by President David Panuelo as the Secretary of the Federated States of Micronesia Department of Education. Aisek helped secure a $17,700,000 investment from the World Bank in 2022 to improve the country’s education system and vocational training.^[14] In a statement, President Panuelo said, "Words cannot express how proud I am of Secretary Aisek and her team at the Department of Education, and how thankful we are for the World Bank’s financial support for this project."

References

1. Web site: Bryce. Bindi. 2017-03-16. First woman to enter Chuuk state senate promises to bring big changes. 2022-01-06. ABC Radio Australia. en-AU.
2. Web site: Island Times Staff. 2017-03-31. Newly elected and returning members of the Chuuk Legislature undergo in-depth orientation. 2022-01-06. Island Times. en-US.
3. Web site: Clark. Richard. 2021-10-08. President Panuelo Swears in the Honorable Ausen Lambert, the Honorable Gardenia Aisek, the Honorable Marcus Samo, and the Honorable Elina Akinaga. 2023-03-02. FSM Government. en. 2023-03-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20230302213723/https://gov.fm/index.php/fsm-publicinfo/announcements/35-pio-articles/news-and-updates/539-president-panuelo-swears-in-the-honorable-ausen-lambert-the-honorable-gardenia-aisek-the-honorable-marcus-samo-and-the-honorable-elina-akinaga. dead.
4. Web site: IPIKU Directors. 2023-03-02. IPIKU. en-US.
5. Web site: Senator Gardenia Aisek. 2023-03-02 . Pacific Women in Politics. en.
6. Web site: Sain . Lucille. 2011-11-02 . Executive Director of Education, Chuuk State, Ms. Gardenia Aisek . 2023-03-02 . The Fourth Branch. en.
7. Web site: Update from the President's Office - No. 194. 2001-09-26 . 2023-03-10 . College of Micronesia-FSM. en.
8. Web site: Lee . 2020-02-23 . Chuuk gubernatorial hopefuls visit Saipan . 2023-03-02 . MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS & VIEWS . en-AU.
9. Web site: Blue Lagoon Resort, Truk, Micronesia. November 2008 . 2023-03-02 . Undercurrent. en .
10. Web site: Reklai. L.N.. 2017-12-12 . Aisek’s a trailblazer as first female senator in Chuuk. 2023-03-02. Island Times. en-US.
11. Web site: Raatior. Dr. Vid. 2014-12-20 . Chuuk Education Board Fired DOE Director . 2023-03-10 . Chuuk Reform Movement. en-US.
12. Macayon v. Chuuk State Bd. of Educ. . 19 . FSM R. . 644 . Chk. S. Ct. Tr. . 2015 . http://www.fsmlaw.org/fsm/decisions/vol19/19FSMIntrm.644-650.html . 2023-03-10.
13. Web site: Encinares. Erwin. 2019-12-05 . APIL delegates gather on Saipan for 60th meeting . 2023-03-02 . The Saipan Tribune . en.
14. Web site: FSMPublic Information. 2022-06-04. Thanks to Generous Support from the World Bank, the FSM Skills & Employability Enhancement Project Seeks to Update Vocational Curriculum, Provide Vocational Grants, and Rebuild PATS as the FSM Skills Academy. 2023-03-10 . Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia. en.