Filipino in Arizona named Teacher of the Year, brings lessons of home to US classrooms

A Filipino teacher in the United States has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year” across a network of schools in Arizona—an achievement he says is rooted not just in professional dedication, but in values learned growing up in the Philippines.

John Francis Saavedra, an English educator based in Glendale, Arizona, was named Arizona Teacher of the Year within the Legacy Traditional Schools system, which operates more than 20 campuses statewide.

The recognition, held on May 6, 2026, placed him at the top among educators selected from each campus, following a final selection at a statewide awards banquet in Phoenix.

For Saavedra, the moment was less about the title and more about what it symbolized.

“When my name was called, I immediately thought about my Filipino roots, my family, and my teachers,” he told GMA News Online.

“It felt like I was representing every Filipino educator and every immigrant who has had to prove themselves.”

His education journey began in the Philippines, where he spent his formative years. He describes his early schooling as deeply influential—not only academically, but in shaping his character and purpose.

“Education back home is seen as a pathway to opportunity, often made possible through sacrifice,” Saavedra said.

“That perspective shaped my purpose early in life.”

He credited one teacher in particular—his sixth-grade mentor, "Mrs. Laxamana," for changing the trajectory of his life. Though not the top student academically, Saavedra was encouraged to join competitions and take on leadership roles.

“Because she believed in me, I began to believe in myself,” he noted, adding that the experience now defines his approach in the classroom.

Saavedra, who migrated to the United States at a young age and later completed his education in Guam, has been teaching for 18 years. Today, he specializes in secondary English, focusing on reading and writing, and is known for initiatives that emphasize student voice and confidence-building, including TED-style student talks.

His teaching philosophy centers on impact beyond grades.

“Students may forget lessons or assignments, but they will remember how a teacher made them feel,” he added.

As the only Filipino educator on his campus, and possibly across the entire Arizona network, Saavedra said he carries a strong sense of responsibility to represent his community.

“Representation matters,” he expressed. “For many students, I may be the first Filipino teacher they’ve encountered. I want them to see that success has many faces, many accents, and many stories.”

He integrates Filipino values such as paggalang (respect), malasakit (compassion), tatag (resilience), and bayanihan (community spirit) into his teaching, shaping both classroom culture and student relationships.

These values, he said, help create an environment where students feel seen and supported—especially those navigating their own identities or challenges.

Saavedra also spoke candidly about the difficulties he faced early in his U.S. teaching career, including overcoming assumptions tied to race and accent, particularly as an English teacher.

“There were moments when I had to work harder to prove my credibility,” he said. “But I chose to see my identity not as a limitation, but as a strength.”

That perspective has stayed with him through the years and culminated in the recognition he now holds.

Despite the accolade, Saavedra insists his motivation remains unchanged.

“I have never worked for awards,” he said. “My greatest purpose has always been making a difference in students’ lives.”

He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Adult Education and hopes to eventually mentor future educators at the university level. He also plans to visit the Philippines this June, where he hopes to reconnect with his former teacher.

“Life has a way of coming full circle,” he said.

Beyond the classroom, Saavedra is active in the Filipino community in Arizona, having founded an awards program recognizing Filipino-American achievers and previously leading an association supporting Filipino teachers.

Still, he returns to a simple message—especially for young Filipinos aspiring to teach.

“Your story, your culture, your struggles, those are not weaknesses,” he said. “They are the foundation of your strength.”

And in classrooms thousands of miles from where his own journey began, Saavedra continues to pass that lesson on.

Legacy Traditional Schools is a nonprofit network of tuition-free public charter schools operating across Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and South Carolina. Founded in 2007, the system has expanded to more than 28 campuses serving over 28,000 students, with a workforce of more than 1,000 teachers.

The network positions itself as providing A-rated education with a rigorous, well-rounded curriculum that includes core academics, the arts, physical education, and extracurricular activities. It aims to develop both academic excellence and character formation among students, emphasizing its mission to build “lifelong learners and good citizens.” —LDF, GMA News