Teacher Myra: Hardworking, dedicated, compassionate

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Meet Myra Rodriguez Tranquilino, one of several teachers to be honored by the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) at the Asian Library on Saturday this week, May 20.

Teacher Myra was awarded  the Hamilton Teacher of the Award in 2014 by the Lincoln Charter. 

When she asked the principal why she was given the prestigious school award, the principal replied that she is “hardworking, dedicated, responsible, compassionate and have a big sense of humor.”

The principal also said the students respected and loved her. Teacher Myra was humbled and thought to herself that may be why Filipino teachers excel no matter what country they are assigned to. 

Her teaching philosophy consists simply of inspiring students. Teacher Myra said a teacher should be driven and possess a “can do” personality that would motivate her students to be the same. 

She said a teacher should not only teach curriculum but inspire a lifelong desire to learn among students. Teacher Myra said the challenge for teachers is to connect to students on a deeper emotional level, to instill a love for students that speaks volumes. 

Teacher Myra has, in her words, spent “15 wonderful years” teaching biology, chemistry and physical science at the Lincoln Charter. She is teaching 8the grade science. 

A former Odyssey of the Mind Coach, science fair coordinator and a mentor, Myra's husband Edwin Tranquilino is also a teacher honoree, teaching physics at Harding University High School. 

Myra was born in Makati, Manila, Philippines and graduated with a degree in Secondary Education major in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in physics at the Assumption University under its Private Education Financial Assistance Scholarship. 

Teacher Myra's students

She loves singing and organizing stuff at her house and she spends quality time with her children.  

Myra said her favorite books are those on science especially Biotechnology and Forensic Science.

Teacher Myra said she really wanted to be a doctor but due to financial constraints and her scholarship being good only for four years, she decided to choose a preparatory course for medicine. 

Her first teaching experience was during second semester at Assumption University High School Department in 1993. 

“The high school principal approached me and my friend to be a substitute teacher in Physics because the teacher had an emergency family leave. My thesis adviser recommend me and my friend for the job,” she said.

She taught Physics in the morning while watching over students taking up chemistry class in the afternoon in the next three months. She was 20 years old at the time when the door to teaching opportunities opened to her. 

She recalled that it was a scary experience at the time since her students were already in their fourth year.  “It was an experience that led me to be a good teacher,” Myra said.

As a chemistry teacher, she was careful since there are students “that don't follow procedures and safety procedures.” “If you are not vigilant enough they will mix anything in front of them although they were told not to,” Myra said.

Among the challenges facing teachers are motivating students, curriculum overload, resources, parent involvement and proper use of technology such as digital devises. 

Aside from chemistry and sciences, Myra was also asked to teach American history which she found both funny and challenging because she wasn't an American citizen and she despised the subject.

“I studied every night and asked the help of other Social Studies teachers. It was a challenge. But I am so grateful I took the challenge because I’ve learned a lot about American History. It was an advantage when I took the citizenship test,” she said.

Myra said she learned to love the subject and taught history for three years. She said teaching methodologies in the US and in the Philippines have become almost the same since the Philippines started its K-12 education.

“They both employ cooperative learning, inquiry-based, peer teaching, cases based learning in science. The difference may lie in the application of technology in these approaches especially for students with special needs,” she said.

What makes Myra unique is her belief that every teacher should consider the start of the school season as their first year of teaching. 

And this gregarious program emcee would join other teacher honorees at the teacher appreciation ceremony of the FACC at the Asian Library this Saturday May 20.