Our series on the applicants for the Guam Department of Education’s leadership role continues—now spotlighting veteran educator and administrator, Dr. Barbara Adamos, now serving as deputy superintendent.

She currently serves as acting deputy superintendent of educational support and community learning at GDOE, where, among other responsibilities, she oversees leadership, compliance, accreditation, and program coordination.

Her career began in the classroom as a language arts teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, where she taught for two decades before moving into administration—first as assistant principal, then principal for 12 years. Now, with 36 years at GDOE, Dr. Adamos is seeking the agency’s top role: superintendent. “I have that heart," she said.  "I believe it’s my calling to be superintendent.”

That “heart,” she says, is grounded in experience as both educator and administrator. Over the years, she helped shape language arts curriculum, ensuring continuity across grade levels, and led JFK's temporary move to the Tiyan campus during its 2009 rebuild.  “I assisted in helping the school move from GW, through the Tiyan facility–kind of bringing a sense of normalcy for the two years we were there. At the same time, assisting with the rebuild of the JFK campus," she said.

She’s since carried that experience into systemwide initiatives—from school maximization to campus openings and pairings.  She’s also helped ensure schools were inspected and ready to open on time.

When it comes to right-sizing, Adamos emphasizes the balance between data and community input.  Adamos also has her sights set on GDOE being a strong fiscal steward. 

“Ensure that we are not only obligating the money, that we are following that procurement process, encumbering all the way down to liquidating, and that we have a check in balance in place and that we do hold each other accountable," she said.

Looking ahead, she says her goal is to lead with purpose, drawing on the many roles she once held within the department.

“It’s going to be anchored by our student achievement, empowering our educators, and building on the trust that the community has for us. I'm dedicated to our student learning in safe, clean, and positive environments, and I believe all students deserve quality education," she said.