NEWLY-PROMOTED assistant school principal II of the senior high school of the Emilio Aguinaldo Jacinto National High School in Quezon City on Sunday vowed a consultative leadership in the implementation of K to 12 program, the country’s biggest education reform in recent years, and effectively fulfill his late mother’s lifelong dream for him to head an educational institution.

Edgardo “Ed” Del Mundo Cruz, an innovative and dedicated Master Teacher II who selflessly served at the Araling Panlipunan (AP) department of New Era High School (NEHS) in Quezon City for almost 36 years, promised to do his best to promote quality education for senior high school students amid difficult times brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Our steadfast commitment to ensure quality education to our students will surely help us overcome the humps and bumps of the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative impact to education sector. I will do my very best to help our students further exhibit competence in the global job market and shepherd them to brighter future,” Cruz stressed as he thanked Quezon City’s Schools Division Superintendent Jenilyn Rose B. Corpuz, CESO VI, for signing his promotion to principal II on June 9, 2021 and sent to Joseph G. Palisoc, school principal IV of the Emilio Jacinto National High School.

“I thank the Department of Education for the trust and confidence in my qualifications, ability and leadership. This promotion is also in fulfillment of my late mother’s lifelong dream that one day, I’ll will become a school principal,” Cruz said, admitting that his mother (Epifania “Paning” Cruz) was his driving force to excel and do better in his life.

“Grade 11 is already existing and we are going to offer Grade 12 this coming school year. My primary plan is to increase the number of students in junior high school and senior high school to also increase teachers’ population,” Cruz said.

“Aside from being a division demonstration teacher as master teacher of the division, I also served as module writer, book writer, division periodical test writer, and regional teacher trainer,” said Cruz, who finished his Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in History at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1985.

He was also a teaching associate at the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) Colleges from 1991-2009 and lecturer at the Far Eastern University-East Asia Institute of Technology from 1994-2005.

In behalf of her batch, Sherryl Baltazar Cagara, NEHS Batch ’93 class valedictorian, congratulated Cruz on his long overdue promotion.

“Congratulations po Sir Ed for a long overdue promotion. We take this opportunity to extend our warmest gratitude to you for holding true to your vocation of providing quality education to many students despite risks to your health and safety during this pandemic,” Cagara said.

“You’ve been always there to ensure that no student will be left behind in their studies. Salamat po Sir Ed,” Cagara added.

Cruz, son of the late former elementary school janitor Florentino “Tino” Dela Paz Cruz, Sr. at the Culiat Elementary School in Quezon City, vowed to continue his advocacy of being parents’ partner in ensuring that their children are given proper and quality education.

“Providing quality education to students has been at the forefront of my advocacies,” Cruz assured despite present challenges brought by the pandemic.

The Emilio Jacinto National High School started as Emilio Jacinto Senior High School of Sauyo National High School under Palisoc in 2019.

It offered grade 7 to 10 under its junior high school program and the following strands – ABM, HE-ICT, TVL, STEM, GAS and HUMSS – in Grade 11.

The school has 770 students and 19 faculty members.

“As of June 24, 2021, our online enrolment reached 890 students. With this rate, perhaps we can reach 1,400 students before we begin our 2021-2022 school year,” Cruz said.

Cruz replaced former school’s officer-in-charge Dexter P. Jino-o, AP Head Teacher III of the Sauyo National High School.

He started as a substitute teacher at the NEHS in November 1985 immediately after his graduation and became a permanent secondary teacher in August 1986.

Then Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) promoted Cruz to Master Teacher 1 in November 1996 and became Master Teacher 2 in December 2012.

He served as president of NEHS faculty and non-teaching staff association from 2014-2016.