by Krystal Paco

Guam - Department of Education superintendent Jon Fernandez is making school tours again, this time to focus on SAT-10 results. Fernandez says he's visited 7 of the 40 schools to date, meeting with principals and teachers to see what they're implementing this year to improve scores.

DOE schools are improving, but not quick enough to meet national proficiency standards.

Fernandez said, "SAT-10s are not the be all and the end all of how we ought to be evaluating our system they are one factor and its also our assessment by which parents are looking at our school system and trying to determine whether public or private school systems would work best for their children."

Fernandez admits it may get overwhelming in the coming years with the implementation of the Common Core, district content standards, elementary reform programs, and positive behavior programs also in full swing, but hopes the department can stay focused on student achievement. He says schools will need to look at skills students are struggling with and incorporate them into day-to-day instruction.