“The school principal is the most important and influential individual in the school. It is her leadership that sets the tone of the school, the climate for learning, the level of professionalism and morale of teachers and the degree of concern for what students may or may not become. She is the main link between the school and the community and the way she performs in that capacity largely determines the attitudes of students and parents about the school. If a school is vibrant, innovative, child-centered place, if it has a reputation for excellence in teaching, if students are performing to the best of their ability, one can almost point to the principal’s leadership as the key to success.”

U.S Congress, 1971, p. 56

Reflecting on this quotation spells and defines clearly how crucial is my role as the school head and it gives me so much challenge knowing that I stepped on a school where most, if not, all agree that there is so much to change but with my few months of knowing and observing my stakeholders, both internal and external I have seen that each one has the potential of sharing big or small and becoming a leader.

Yes, with barely 2 months and 2 weeks of leading this school, we did a great accomplishment. First and foremost, my dear fellow teachers, you reached out teaching your learners to address an issue which this new normal of education creates through your own created video lessons and this for me is a feat I must acknowledge. Secondly, I openly witnessed the cooperation and camaraderie of our barangay officials and parents during the demolition of our old school buildings.

Blending the above quotation with our tagline, “Eskwela ya Illuru, Aggina ya Mangiyulu.”, in English, “Illuru Elementary School, the Leading School.”, jerks my inner most spirit and honestly, in my “me” time, I asked myself, “CAN I, CAN WE REALIZE OUR TAGLINE or AM I DREAMING THE IMPOSSIBLE?” But then the word “WE” gives so much hope and believing the power of WE, nothing is impossible. Let this be a challenge to all of us, I have started setting the tone so please ride with me. I cannot do the needed “CHANGE” all alone, I need you in my journey. Remember? “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO EDUCATE A CHILD AND SO IT APPLIES AS WELL, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BEAUTIFY THE SCHOOL.”

Our school children deserve the best, they deserve the best education and the best school where they are inspired to learn because they have the best teachers. Teachers who are manifesting love, who stand as their parents in school so that we no longer give a gap to the meaning of a home and a school.

We are nurturing future professionals and leaders so let us then develop our learners that even with a young age they are already “MAKADIYOS, MAKATAO, MAKAKALIKASAN at MAKABANSA.”

And so with this..let me, let you and let us all believe “WE CAN”.