OPINION Yamashita: Superintendent must lead or leave

In December 2025, Guam Department of Education Superintendent Judith Won Pat seemed driven. When introducing her team, she stated that 'their collective focus on accountability, student-centered practices, and community engagement positions the department for significant progress and transformation.' Nine months later, that transformation is quicksand. She has shown little regard for community engagement. At a meeting on Feb. 19, 2026, called by Guam legislative education oversight chair Sen. Vince Borja, JWP was absent. The community anticipated discussing the status of school operations. It was later shared there was a prolonged emergency GDOE meeting causing their absence. JWP could've had others attend to listen. In March 2026, JWP announced the merger of SSHS and THS at the Guam Legislature — without board consensus. There was vigorous feedback from families, students, staff, teachers against the plan. Stakeholders believed the plan was rushed, not thought out, not transparent, not collaborative. They are right. Now, an avoidable mess is being addressed. On June 3, 2026, Mayors' Council of Guam President and Piti Mayor Jesse Alig asked JWP to meet the mayors about schools. By mid-August, no response was received. On Aug. 5, 2026, the Home of the Geckos were responding to the JWP decision allowing SIFA to use GW classrooms. JWP must know that shuffling rooms right before school opens, changing patterns for our students with special needs, requiring teachers to refigure learning environments would spur anguish. She flunked having a collaborative conversation with the Geckos. JWP's absence at this meeting was stark. When Deputy Superintendent Julie Ulloa-Heath laughed dismissively as teachers raised concerns for retribution, our hearts hurt and our minds angered. Ulloa-Heath should not be the person in charge of assessment & accountability. Derision skews accountability. 'We have a tremendous opportunity to reshape the educational landscape within the Department of Education. Our commitment to prioritizing children's needs reflects a belief that every decision made in the Department of Education should benefit students' overall development' JWP said. Really? As the Department of Public Works made steady progress with rebuilding Simon Sanchez High School, it was unfortunate that Office of Public Accountability Hearing Officer Joseph McDonald on April 28, 2026, denied the request for Core Tech to proceed with the pending General Pacific Services protest. The government's substantial interest determination was rejected because it did not include the GDOE superintendent's written concurrence. Unforgivable, JWP. Learning loss is not substantial? Identity loss is not substantial? Increased stress & anxiety are not substantial? When plans to merge the Sharks with the Titans proceeded, JWP did not do her job as superintendent in confirming facilities were ready. While the Tiyan principal has submitted repair requests, it is the role of central to review and address. Hard to discern where contracts fall – Capital Improvement, Facilities & Management, Fiscal, Legal? Regardless, it is the responsibility of the superintendent to get the job done. The discovery of facts after a failed health inspection is proof that the community was right – plan was incomplete, fragmented, flawed. Back to hard copy, Barrigada Mayor June Blas was in the receiving end of JWP's disorganization. The mayor's office had nothing to hand out as they received the fury of families. Yigo Mayor Frances Lizama, as she resented the lack of respect and regard for stakeholder engagement, asked for the termination of an absent superintendent. Is it fair to raise such operational mishaps? Indeed, especially when JWP's price tag is $210,000 plus benefits. The sloppy performance is mind-boggling when we know JWP is no stranger to our agencies, people in position, policies, procedures. Guam Education Board member Angel Sablan was right not to vote for her selection. His concerns about her performance are valid. Her failure of processes has led to unacceptable outcomes. For the record, our school communities withstand inconvenient, sometimes hurtful changes when they are inclusive and respectful as shown with COVID-19, storms, closure of Chief Brodie and Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary Schools and health inspections. Stakeholder and organizational engagement were constant, open, and organized. Consensus is always possible. JWP asked for the job. She got the job. She is not a student whose remedy may be intervention. As the top teacher, she must lead or leave.