In a profession that encompasses interactions with individuals from diverse walks of life, of varying shapes and sizes, each bringing unique backgrounds to the table, the question arises: How does a special education teacher navigate the seemingly overwhelming diversity? More importantly, what qualities are essential to assume the responsibility of orchestrating a harmonious classroom for learners with special needs, ensuring that no one is left behind?
Marie Joy Maestro, a distinguished special education teacher and resource specialist at Thomas R. Pollicita Middle School in Daly City, California, USA, has recently been honored with the prestigious Outstanding Middle School Inclusive Educator Award along with Technology Integration in Special Education Award at the 2023 International Who’s Who Awards by the BETMA English in collaboration with Aloysian Publications- Philippines on December 28, 2023 in Pasay City, Manila, Philippines. The award-giving body bestows special recognition to individuals for having reached the “pinnacle of excellence” in their respective fields through their outstanding achievements “setting an extraordinary standard in the field” and “establishing a beacon of inspiration” worth emulating. Moreover, they are widely acclaimed for their commitment to legacy preservation by publishing a special edition of the Educator’s Link, a national and international monthly professional magazinein dedication to the exemplary contributions of their remarkable awardees. Grateful and humbled, she articulates the significance of this accolade, stating, “It validates the hard work and dedication I put into my role as a special education teacher and reinforces my commitment to inclusive education.”
When asked about the attributes that may have contributed to her receiving this esteemed distinction, she highlights her unwavering dedication to inclusion, belief in her students’ potentials, effective collaboration with colleagues and parents, innovative teaching strategies, commitment to professional development, and a student-centered approach to education. Looking back, serving as foundation to her credentials is her educational background consisting of degrees and courses she earned both in the Philippines and the United States. She is a Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) graduate with a major in Special Education, Batch 2013. In 2017, she earned a certificate in Vocational Trade Course in Special Education from the Resources for Educational & Allied Consultancy Habitat (R.E.A.C.H) Inc. Meanwhile, in the United States, she finished the following courses: Language Development 502-503 in 2024 at the University of Phoenix; Language Development in 2022 at the University of Phoenix; Math 215 and English 102 in 2022 at the National University; and U.S. Constitution Preparation and Exam in 2022 at the U.C. San Diego Ext.
Teacher Joy’s early professional years were spent in the Philippines, where she served as a special education teacher, elementary teacher, and high school transition SPED teacher. For six years, she worked in the Philippines prior to her current post in the United States. Right after graduation, her first teaching job was at Twin Hearts International School in Lucena City, Quezon Province, as a regular teacher volunteer in SPED therapy in 2013. Afterwards, she served as a transition SPED teacher in Luis Palad Integrated High School, Tayabas City, Quezon Province for 1st to 4th-year students with mild to moderate learning challenges in 2014. The following year, she was designated as a regular Special Education teacher at Froilan E. Lopez Elementary School still under the Division of Tayabas City. She spent a year as an elementary teacher at Gibanga Elementary School before transferring to Tayabas East Central School 1 as Special Education teacher from 2016 to 2019. From 2019 up to present, she has been working as a resource specialist in Thomas R. Pollicita Middle School at Daly City, California, USA.
Alongside her steadfast commitment to being an inclusive education advocate, she has honed essential skills and knowledge for special education teachers. These include proficiency in developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), employing creative and innovative teaching methodologies for optimal student growth, fostering a flexible learning environment, and enhancing the overall learning experience. Additionally, she promotes a team-oriented approach to education by cultivating collaborations with parents, colleagues, and other stakeholders, all while maintaining a dedication to continuous professional development. In fact, her long list of trainings, workshops, and seminars includes the following: “16th Annual Autism Spectrum Disorder Update: Autism Through the Life Span”, “Professional Development Day”, “California Integrated Pest Management”, “Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training for California (EDU)”, and “Anti-Harassment Training for All Employees – California”; all of which she undertook in the previous year alone.
A licensed professional teacher in the Philippines, Teacher Joy passed her board exams in 2013, the same year she obtained her undergraduate degree. In the United States, she is a California Basic Education Skill Test eligible and has earned her Education Specialist Credential in California from 2019 to the present. Moreover, armed with advanced skills and fueled by her passionate acts of service, she effectively champions the challenges of teaching SPED learners, with the individualized nature of students’ needs at the forefront. Recognizing the unique learning styles, abilities, and challenges of each learner necessitates constant adaptability and personalized approaches. In an optimistic tone, she affirms, “Balancing the diverse needs of the students while ensuring they receive the necessary support can be demanding but equally fulfilling.”
With this mindset, her teaching journey has earned her a number of achievements and recognitions along the way, thus acknowledging her competence as an educator fulfilling a multi-faceted role. Along with attaining certification in Sign Language Proficiency, she also obtained trainings in coaching and officiating for students with disabilities. Her milestones include successfully integrating hearing impaired learners into mainstream classrooms when she served as a special education teacher in the primary level during her three years of service from 2016-2019 in Tayabas East Central School 1. Moreover, having also served in the secondary level for a year, specifically in the Division of Tayabas City Luis Palad Integrated High School in 2013, she was able to mark that chapter with further validation of her commendable performance by facilitating smooth academic and social transition of learners from middle to high school.
Furthermore, believing in lifelong learning, she is in fact a national certificate holder on Bread and Pastry (NCII). Meanwhile, her years in elementary school included roles requiring her leadership and organizational skills, such as being designated the School Coordinator in MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education), ICT (Information and Communication Technology), and School Health and Nutrition as well as the Grade Chairperson of Tayabas East Central School 1 which entailed administrative duties. Added to her list of achievements was being a recipient of the 2018 Gawad Tulay Malasakit award given by the Schools Division of Tayabas City for being a contributor to the Department of Education’s regional newsletter and website. As a mother, she was recognized as an Active Parent awardee during Brigada Eskwela, a school activity prior to opening of classes, for having made notable contributions in preparing the school for the incoming academic year.
Her mentoring capacity goes beyond handling learners as demonstrated on her technical working group assignments and speaking engagements in the local, division, regional, and national level trainings and seminars attended by fellow teachers in which she was once just a participant, but had been entrusted eventually with key roles instead during these professional events due to her expertise and advanced skills. In the Philippines, she assumed the role of a facilitator multiple times during division in-service trainings and regional workshops for SPED teachers catered by the Department of Education, namely “National Training on Coaching and Officiating for Students with Disability”, “National Training of Trainers on Special Education”, “Regional Training Workshop for Receiving Teachers for Children with Difficulties”, “Regional Mass Training of Receiving Teachers on SPED”, “Division In-Service Training for Teachers”, and “Division Training of Teachers on RPMS-PPST for 2019-2020”. At the “Regional Mass Training of Receiving Teachers on SPED”, she was tapped as a resource speaker, giving her a platform to share her expertise on inclusive practices in the special education field. Likewise, while in the U.S., she gave a talk via a video on “Technological Tools and Resources for Remote Instruction in Special Education” during the Brigada Eskwela 2021. Serving as another proof of her craft being worthy of being benchmarked was a demonstration teaching feat on a convention entitled “Conduct of Pedagogical Retooling of Teachers to Hail Quality Standards” during the school year 2019-2020.
With all these, she has proven her versatility as she manages to accomplish responsibilities given to her, even if it meant going beyond her specialization at times. Ultimately being recognized for exceeding expectations in every role and task she is given, her noteworthy accomplishments truly speak of her unwavering commitment to excellence.
Looking at the broader landscape, Teacher Joy identifies the need for adequate resources and support as a significant concern in the field of special education. Considering budget constraints, limited personnel, and insufficient access to specialized services faced by special education programs, she emphasizes, “It is crucial to advocate for increased funding, training opportunities for educators, and collaborative partnerships across stakeholders to ensure that all students with special needs receive the support they deserve.”
To add, her affiliations with professional U.S.-based organizations contribute to her in-depth understanding of both the challenging and rewarding aspects of working in the special education field. She is a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers from 2023 to present and the American Federation of Teachers from 2019 to present.
Meanwhile, the most rewarding part of teaching SPED for Teacher Joy is witnessing the growth and progress of her students and knowing that she has played a pivotal role in their journey towards success. Specifically, she finds immense joy and fulfillment in seeing them overcome obstacles, achieve their goals, and exhibit independence.
A decade in the field of special education has led Teacher Joy to a profound realization of her greatest responsibility in the classroom: “to create an environment that nurtures the learners’ abilities and supports their challenges, promoting their overall development and preparing them for success in life.” Firmly believing that inclusive education extends beyond academics to fostering social-emotional skills, self-advocacy, and independence, she ultimately aspires to inspire success, resilience, and a love for learning in every student she serves.
True to her last name, an Italian word for “expert” or “teacher,” Ma’am Marie Joy is a “maestro” in a classroom of learners possessing individual strengths and abilities comparable to a conductor leading musicians who play various instruments. Her expertise in guiding her learners to grow and fulfill their potentials creates harmony out of diversity, a melody symbolic of the positive impact she imparts on the lives of her students and the special education community.
(Josephine Cabulong Villaverde, a licensed professional teacher, is a public Secondary School Teacher III in DepEd Tayabas City Division, Quezon Province, Philippines. Finishing her degree in the Philippine Normal University, she is a graduate of Master of Arts in Education, major in English Language Teaching. She is also a student publication adviser, Special Program in Journalism writing coach, Creative Writing teacher, and the school Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS) coordinator. She is commonly tapped as a newsletter and learning resource writer, documenter, scriptwriter, language reviewer, and learning material evaluator at the school, division, and regional level.)
