Top 5 CNMI Teachers of the Year: Esco Ulloa

Introduction

My name is Esco Hocog Ulloa, and I’m a 7th grade science teacher at Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School. I’ve been with the CNMI Public School System since 2016, so this year marks my 10th year in the classroom.

I’m originally from the island of Rota, and I grew up surrounded by educators in my family. But one of the biggest influences in my life has always been my mom.

From a very young age, she made sure we understood that education was important. She would always tell us that school was something we had to take seriously. At the time, I didn’t always understand why she was so firm about it. I just knew that education was not optional in our household.

Now that I’m older, and especially now that I’m an educator myself, I understand her a little more. She wasn’t just making sure we went to school. She was trying to give us something that she knew no one could take away from us. She taught us to work hard, to be responsible, and to appreciate the opportunities we were given.

My mom is one of my greatest role models because she taught me those things by example. I watched her work hard, show up, and do what needed to be done. That work ethic has stayed with me throughout my life.

And then there’s my auntie, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos, who has also been a tremendous role model for me. Growing up in Rota and watching her dedicate herself to education showed me that being an educator is more than just having a job. It’s about serving your community, giving back, and making a difference in the lives of others.

So when I look at where I am today, I realize that a lot of what I’ve become started with the lessons I learned at home. My mom taught me the value of hard work and education, and my auntie showed me what it means to use education to serve others.

I didn’t fully understand those lessons when I was young. But I understand them now, and I’m really grateful for them. I think a big part of who I am as an educator comes from the two of them and from being raised on Rota, where family, hard work, and community mean so much.

I’m a science teacher, but I’ve never believed my job is just to teach science. I want my students to be curious, ask questions, make mistakes, and not be afraid to try again. I want them to have fun while they’re learning and, most importantly, leave my classroom knowing they’re capable of figuring things out for themselves.

Why did you want to become a teacher? What are some of the best and challenging parts?

I think I became a teacher because, from a really young age, I was surrounded by educators in my family. Teaching was something I grew up seeing and experiencing, so in a way, I always knew it was something I wanted to do too. But as I got older, I realized that I genuinely enjoy working with kids. I like that every day is different, and I like that I get to be part of their lives during such an important time in their development.

One of the best parts of teaching is seeing those moments when something clicks for a student. Sometimes it’s academic, and sometimes it’s something much smaller: like a student who normally doesn’t participate finally raising their hand, or a student realizing, “Oh, I can actually do this.”

But one of my favorite parts actually happens years later. I’ll run into former students somewhere in the community, and they’ll come up to me and say things like, “I remember your class,” “Thank you for making science fun,” or even, “Thank you for seeing me.” Those moments mean so much to me because you realize that what you were doing in your classroom stayed with them. It’s that full-circle moment where you think, Maybe I made more of an impact than I knew at the time.

The challenging part is that there really is no one-size-fits-all approach. You can teach the exact same lesson to six different classes and have six completely different experiences. You have to be willing to adjust, try something different, and sometimes just say, “Okay, that didn’t work. Let’s try something else.”

And honestly, I think that’s part of what makes teaching interesting. You’re constantly learning, too. You’re learning your students, learning what works, and learning how to become a better teacher along the way.

How would you describe your teaching style, and how do you encourage students to learn?

I would describe my teaching style as very engagement-focused. My whole philosophy is basically: engagement begins with knowing your students.

If I know my students, I can figure out what gets them interested, what makes them curious, what motivates them, and sometimes even what will get that one student who never wants to participate to actually participate.

I like using hands-on activities, technology, collaboration, and real-world connections. But I don't think engagement always has to be something big or flashy.

Sometimes it's just asking the right question. Sometimes it's giving students the opportunity to move around and work with someone. And sometimes it's knowing your student well enough to say, “I know you can do this. Try again.”

For me, that's engagement.

What does it mean to be a Teacher of the Year finalist?

Being selected as one of the Top 5 finalists is honestly a little surreal.

A lot of what teachers do happens behind the scenes. People see the lesson, but they don't always see everything that went into getting there - the planning, the adjustments, the conversations with students, the extra time, or all the little things you do because you know a particular student needs it.

So having that work recognized is really meaningful to me.

But I also know I'm standing among some really amazing educators. I want to congratulate all of the Teachers of the Year from schools across our district. It is an honor to work with so many people who are doing incredible things for our students.

Being part of this group is something I’m really proud of, and I’m grateful to be able to represent Hopwood and the people who have supported me throughout my journey.

What advice would you give to other educators or aspiring educators?

I would say: find your thing.

You don’t have to be the loudest teacher in the room. You don’t have to teach exactly like somebody else. You don’t have to have the most elaborate classroom or the newest technology. Figure out what works for you, figure out what your students need, and keep getting better at it.

And more than anything, know your students and then give them something worth doing.

Let them question. Let them investigate. Let them create. Let them collaborate. Let them struggle, revise, and try again. Let them share their ideas and discover that their voices matter.

And please remember that leadership doesn’t always have to be loud.

Some of you are the voices at the front of the room. Some of you lead quietly behind the scenes. Some of you are the teachers everyone knows, while others make an impact through relationships that only a few people ever see.

All of it matters.

The conversation in the hallway matters. The lesson you stayed late to prepare matters. The student you checked on matters. The extra explanation, the second chance, the encouragement, and that moment when you told a student, “I believe in you” all of it matters.

Our students are not just names on a roster or numbers in a gradebook. They are young people with stories, identities, strengths, questions, and dreams. And sometimes, the impact we have on them is something we don’t see until years later.

So, educators, keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep adapting. Keep doing the work.

Whether you are the loudest, the quietest, or somewhere in between, your work is important. Your presence matters. And the work you do for our kids matters.

Thank you for continuing to show up for them.

Know them.
Teach them.
Believe in them.

And then create classrooms where they can believe in themselves.