Dr. Yolanda M. Gonzales, Principal IV of Tarlac National High School, was named Best Principal of the Year at the 26th World School Summit held at the House of Lords in Londonโan international recognition of her leadership in building inclusive, globally aware, and high-performing school environments.
The award highlights her role in advancing institutional reforms within one of the countryโs oldest public high schools. Her work reflects a deep understanding of the challenges facing basic education and a commitment to innovative, locally grounded solutions.
DepEd Region III, under Regional Director Dr. Ronnie S. Mallari, and the local government of Tarlacโled by Governor Christian Yap, Mayor Susan Yap, Vice Governor Estelita Aquino, and Board Member Harmes Sembranoโhave been instrumental in supporting the schoolโs initiatives. Their collaboration has ensured that Dr. Gonzalesโs programs move beyond planning into full-scale implementation.
Held in a venue more associated with political history than education reform, the summit gathered over 20 education leaders from more than 30 countries. Dr. Gonzalesโs recognition stood out for its emphasis on practical impactโhow school-level leadership can create measurable change in learning outcomes and community engagement.
In a local ceremony following the summit, regional and provincial officials reaffirmed their support, framing the award as a standard for what school leadership in public education can achieve. Dr. Gonzales also participated in strategic discussions at the summit, contributing insights on inclusive education and leadership in resource-limited settings.
Her recognition is not merely personal. It affirms that with vision, coordination, and policy alignment, public school leadership in the Philippines can meetโand even exceedโglobal standards.
