The Department of Education (DepEd) recently honored its outstanding special education (SPED) teachers who have made their SPED program in a number of public schools successful.
Those given distinction included mentors who taught the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, those with autism and mental retardation, and gifted and talented children.
The SPED teacher-winners for the Visually Impaired Category were Arlene Ranile from Mandaue City Central School SPED Center, Edgar Sagun from Candelaria Central School SPED Center in Zambales, and Thelma Guarino from Bagong Silang SPED Center in Caloocan City.
For the Hearing Impaired Category, DepEd honored Brenda Ebreo of La Union SPED Center, San Fernando City, Phoebe Santiago of Legazpi City Division SPED Center and Estrella Bautista of San Fernando Elementary School.
Among the SPED teachers for Children with Autism who were awarded were Estrela Sartiga of Lipata Central School SPED Center, Marife de Guzman of La Union SPED Center, and Maurina Jerusalem of Midsayap Pilot Elementary School SPED Center in Cotabato.
For the Children with Mental Retardation category, DepEd honored teachers Edvin Cabrera from the Integrated School for Exceptional Children in Iloilo City, Virginia Amanon from Midsayap Pilot Central School in Cotabato and Rosario Santos from Sta. Ana Elementary School SPED Center in Manila.
For the Gifted and Talented Children category, the winners were Nora Amowas of Baguio City SPED Center, Efremelia Caronan of Tuguegarao East Central School in Tuguegarao City and Ma. Fe Teresa Peñaflor of Dinalupihan Elementary School in Bataan.
DepEd also acknowledged several outstanding SPED Centers, namely the La Union SPED Center in San Fernando City, Zapatera Elementary School SPED Center in Cebu City, and Paaralang Pag-ibig at Pag-asa in San Pablo City.
DepEd conferred the recognition in celebration of the 100 years of SPED in the country.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City last month after a three-day conference.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that the commitment and the dedication of the SPED teachers enabled DepEd to provide SPED in public schools where hearing and visually impaired children and those with autism and mental retardation from poor families can get education.