Department of Education Region 3 Education Program Supervisor Arnel Usman discusses the objectives, criteria and mechanics of the 2019 Search for Outstanding School Heads and Teachers. The search is one of the highlights of the National Teachers' Month celebration. (Marie Joy S. Carbungco/PIA 3)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept.9 (PIA) -- Department of Education (DepEd) Central Luzon launched this year's Regional Search for Outstanding Teachers and School Heads.

The annual search, which is one of the highlights of the National Teachers' Month celebration, aims to give special recognition to teachers and school heads who manifest profound commitment, exemplary competence, and remarkable dedication to their work.

"Yearly, we give recognition to our teachers and schools for recognizing their effort in teaching our school children. That is also a way of motivating them to do their best for teaching. We want to let them realize that we appreciate what they are doing and at the same time boost their morale and serve as models in their community," DepEd OIC-Regional Director Nicolas Capulong said.

For his part, DepEd Region 3 Education Program Supervisor Arnel Usman said the search is anchored on the agency's regional framework on better schools.

"We believe that we can only have better teachers if we have twice better school heads that produces better schools through better instruction," Usman said.

The search includes the following categories: Outstanding Kindergarten Teachers, Outstanding Elementary Teachers, Outstanding Secondary Teachers, Outstanding Elementary School Heads, Outstanding Secondary School Heads, and Outstanding School Heads of Integrated Schools.

Usman said that the school head category is also open to head teachers who do not have yet the permanent item of a principal but manages a school.

Schools division offices can nominate at least one entry for each of the six categories and can submit the documentary requirements to DepEd Regional Office until September 16, 2019.

"This year, we also modify our search process. Aside from the documentary requirements, we have included on-the-spot lesson plan writing and demonstration teaching for the teachers' category. For the school heads, we are including an instructional leadership competence assessment where the nominees will be given exercises on how to come up with a strategic plan and how to deal with clients," Usman said.

Panel of evaluators will come from DepEd, Civil Service Commission, non-government organizations, private teacher education institutions, and media.

Top 10 winners for each category will announced during the culminating activity of the National Teachers' Month celebration in October. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)