𝐈𝐍𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀 | 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐈𝐍𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀 | 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐬 

In the world of children, life is a series of blank pages waiting for the beautiful but sometimes chaotic collision of crayons and imagination. To the untrained eye, it is just play; to Dr. Jerahmeel R. Aquino, it is the making of an architect, a painter, or a designer.

A proud graduate of Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Dr. Aquino understands that before a child can sculpt a form, they must learn to mold the clay. His own foundation was poured in the classrooms of the College of Education (CEd), where he earned his Bachelor of Elementary Education major in PreSchool Education (BEEd-PSEd) in 2014. 

Much like learning the ABCs, his journey began with fundamental steps: first as a Grade One teacher at Cleverkids School, Inc. in Villasis, Pangasinan and then transitioned to the public school system as a Kindergarten Teacher at Santo Domingo Elementary School from 2015 to 2020.

Teaching is not merely about keeping colors inside the lines. It requires the patience of a saint and the stamina of a beast of burden. Channeling the spirit of the Carabao, TAU’s enduring symbol of hard work, Dr. Aquino rose through the ranks. He then served as a Head Teacher at Tarlac West Central Elementary School (TWCES) and later as a Master Teacher I at Tariji Elementary School. His portfolio during these years was thick with accolades, including the Tarlac City Schools Division Best Kindergarten Implementer in 2017 and a Best Research Paper award in 2021.

But even the best playgrounds eventually become too small. In 2023, Dr. Aquino decided to pack up his teaching kit and move to the United States, joining JL Francis Elementary School in Richmond City, Virginia.

The transition was like switching from finger-painting to oil painting on canvas, the same passion, but a different medium. The cultural landscape was new, but the language of youthful curiosity remained relevant. Dr. Aquino utilized his Filipino heritage as a unique hue in his new palette, quickly taking on responsibilities as a Grade Level Team Lead and School Webmaster.

His impact was immediate. Just as a teacher notices the talent of a timid pupil, the Richmond City Public Schools recognized the hard work and ingenuity of Dr. Aquino. He was recently named the New 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 for School Year 2025-2026. It was the ultimate validation that his methods, honed in the warm climate of Tarlac, could blossom in the frost of Virginia.

However, the story isn't all nap times and snack breaks. Dr. Aquino is honest about the "mental exhaustion" that scars the profession. He tells of weekends that quickly vanish into lesson planning and a mind that refuses to clock out when he leaves the school premises. 

Yet, he persists. Why? Because in kindergarten, you get to watch the kids grow. Dr. Aquino describes the profound joy of seeing "blank slates" evolve, witnessing the moment a hesitant child unlocks a new idea or gains the confidence to share. It is a labor of love that shapes the future of communities, making teachers, in his view, the real heroes, even without capes.

To the future educators walking the halls of TAU-CEd, Dr. Aquino offers advice: "study well and work smart." He reminds them that the habits formed at TAU are the building blocks of their profession. 

Dr. Aquino’s milestones prove that the call to nurture young minds cannot be boxed. It is a calling worthy of crossing the ocean for crayons, of carrying that loving spirit from one playground to the next, to shape the future one colorful stroke after another.

#SmartTAU #GreenandGlobal #CEd #Virginia #USA #Inmula #Alumni #SDG4 #SDG8 #SDG17

Text | Jerome L. Duque [Information Unit]

Graphics | Omar U. Barauntong [Information Unit]