In a country where teachers and parents often work behind the scenes, the Department of Education (DepEd) is shining a light on the unsung heroes of learning.

With the strong backing of the Marcos administration, DepEd on Friday, August 15, officially announced the launch of a national recognition program aimed at honoring ordinary individuals whose extraordinary dedication transforms lives in and beyond the classroom.

Dubbed “DepEd Heroes,” the initiative seeks to celebrate teachers, parents, and community partners whose courage and service often go unnoticed by traditional award-giving bodies.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative aims to offer lasting recognition—not just fleeting applause.

“Panahon na para kilalanin ang kabayanihan ng mga guro, magulang-volunteer, school heads, at education partners hindi lang sa iisang petsa, kundi sa buong taon (It’s time we honor the heroism of teachers, parent-volunteers, school heads, and education partners not just on a single date, but throughout the entire year),” Angara said.

“Dahil hindi tumitigil ang kanilang trabaho, at hindi rin dapat tumigil ang ating pasasalamat (Their work never stops, and neither should our gratitude),” he added.

For its inaugural recognition, DepEd conferred the title on Ma. Lourdes D. Rola, Master Teacher II of Caloocan High School, and Dea Gavas Solayao, a parent-volunteer from Maybancal Elementary School in Morong, Rizal.

DepEd said Rola has spent over 15 years shaping minds in both secondary and tertiary education, guided by the belief that learning is as much about mindset as mastery.

Her signature initiative, Project LET IT GROW, cultivates resilience and a growth mindset among students, teachers, and parents alike.

She is also the heart behind Project ALAB (Alay-Lingap Alang-Alang sa Bata), a teacher-led adopt-a-child program providing school supplies, transportation assistance, snacks, and mentorship to disadvantaged learners.

Her dedication extends to cultural advocacy through SALIN-KULTURA, which transforms heritage education into an interactive experience through storytelling, games, and community events, fostering pride in Filipino identity.

Rola’s work has even crossed international borders as part of the Korea-Philippines Teacher Exchange Programme, representing Philippine education abroad.

Meanwhile, Solayao, known in her community as “Mommy Dea,” began volunteering in 2020 when the pandemic disrupted face-to-face classes.

DepEd said she first helped struggling learners as a Gabay Aral tutor and later found her calling as a storyteller through the school’s Barangayan para sa Bawat Bata Bumabasa (BRB4) reading program.

Guided by nothing but her voice and an unshakable faith in the power of storytelling, Solayao devotes hours after class and during community gatherings to reading aloud to children.

“She does all this despite not holding a teaching license, driven by the conviction that shaping young minds is not the sole domain of educators,” DepEd said.

DepEd noted that her dedication has had a lasting impact on her students, especially those facing the greatest challenges in her community.

Through “DepEd Heroes,” the department hopes to discover more individuals like Rola and Solayao—people whose acts of service may never make headlines but whose quiet dedication is shaping the nation’s future.

DepEd said the program seeks heroes not only in top-performing schools but also in the often-overlooked corners of communities nationwide.

As DepEd looks for more of these unsung heroes, it emphasizes that true success in education comes from the difference made in students’ lives, not from recognition or awards.