Head of School

Welcome to The Vanguard Academy! If you are a parent who is searching for the right school for your children, or if you are looking where to start the first or a new phase of your career, I invite you to join our school’s purpose to foster inclusive communities where everyone can grow as empowered and active members of society. At The Vanguard Academy, students of all abilities, or those with and without disabilities, naturally interact with each other all day long, as classmates and as friends. They embrace each other without labels and view their differences as opportunities to play and learn together. Parents and teachers report life-long benefits of children growing up with this social norm. They develop essential social and communication skills, and mature with greater empathy, compassion, and sense of responsibility - qualities we want in our future leaders.

The composition of our student body makes us a most unique school. In our classrooms, you will find an incredible mix of students, from a growing number of typically developing children to those with different special education needs. Our students thrive and love going to school because of the friends they make and because of the teachers, therapists, and support staff, who keep them safe and make learning fun. Imagine going to a school where everyone is included, and no one is left out. This is The Vanguard Academy.

Because we are a school for all abilities, we selectively hire and retain a diverse group of educators with proven experience, as well as those who are just starting their careers and show great potential. They come from almost 30 different universities all over the Philippines. Through their collective wealth of knowledge and experiences, they learn valuable skills from each other and work in collaborative and interdependent teams. Most importantly, they share in our school’s purpose and have the heart and passion to make sure each and every student in our school learns, makes friends, and feels like they belong – just as they are.

As we steadily increase our student population and develop existing and new programs every school year, we remain steadfast in our commitment to personalized engagement with our students’ families. We value the important role of parents and guardians in our students’ growth and development and rely on close communication and collaboration, as well as timely feedback, to ensure all of our efforts are aligned for the benefit of every student.

Come and visit The Vanguard Academy and see for yourself. Meet our students of all abilities in their classrooms or while they play with their friends. Speak with our teachers and learn what it’s like to work in a school that fosters inclusion. I guarantee you will not find another school in the Philippines like ours.

Ericson J. Perez
Head of School

 

Ericson J. Perez is an advocate, teacher, and education leader with 25 years of experience in public and private elementary, middle, and secondary schools in the U.S.A., Kenya, and the Philippines. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s degree from The George Washington University. He was also a U.S. National Board-certified teacher, specializing in mild to moderate disabilities, and was an International Baccalaureate Special Educational Needs Workshop Leader in the Asia Pacific Region. Ericson has been instrumental in leading the special education advocacy and awareness movement in the region through various initiatives. He established the first SENIA (Special Education Network in Asia) Board and was the chairperson for many years. He also established the first SENIA Youth Group, which empowered youth to advocate for themselves and for their peers. Ericson’s service as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya helped shape his advocacy for high quality education to be made equitably accessible for children of all abilities and backgrounds.