Shirley R. Navarra
Contents
Category: Significant Personality
District of Banga
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Date of Birth: April 29, 1956
Prominence: Education
Birth Place: Banga, Aklan
Present Address: Poblacion, Banga, Aklan
Age: 67 years old
BIOGRAPHY
Shirley Roque Navarra was born on the 29th day of April 1956 in Banga, Aklan. She is married to Joesito Navarra and blessed with 3 children, namely: Ahbba R. Navarra, a registed nurse who is now connected at Bacan National High School as Administrative Assistant II; Gradien R. Navarra, a registered nurse and presently working as Fire Officer II at Banga Fire Station; and Jessie Joy R. Navarra who is currently working at the Banga Municipal Office. She took her elementary education at Banga Elementary School from 1961 to 1969. Due to financial difficulties, she took a two-year break from school. She pursued her secondary education at the Central Visayan Institute of Aklan from 1971 to 1975. She then took a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Agronomy at Aklan Agricultural College, now Aklan State University. With her aim and interest in teaching, she took units in education at the Northwestern Visayan Colleges from 1979 to 1981. She passed the Civil Service Examination (Professional) and the Agricultural Officer Examination in 1981. During this year, she started teaching at her high school Alma Mater, the Central Visayan Institute of Aklan, until 1989. While she was teaching in a private school, she took and passed the Philippine Board for Professional Teachers in 1983.
Her calling for teaching was strengthened when she was appointed Teacher I at Torralba National High School from 1981 to 2001. She was then transferred to another nearby secondary school, Bacan National High School, and served there from 2001 to 2003. The Mangan National High School was established in the District of Banga in response to the people's needs, and Mrs. Navarra served as the institution's pioneer teacher. By 2007, she was designated teacher-in-charge of Mangan National High School when it was granted its autonomous status. The following year, she took and successfully passed the Principal's Examination held at Iloilo City. According to her, she did not prepare for the examination; instead, her primary advantage was due to the knowledge she gained while serving as the teacher-in-charge of Mangan National High School. Her experiences as a responsible and diligent school head helped her succeed.
She had been a very supportive school head to the students, teachers, and stakeholders. With the urgent need for teachers due to the increasing student population, she managed to secure municipal and provincial school board teacher items while waiting for the nationally-funded teacher items to be provided in the school. She is a school head who can justify the qualifications of her teachers for appointments. She is very firm and strict but on point. She does not want teachers doing some of the office work; instead, she sees to it that all teachers are teaching and are doing well for the benefit of the students.
In 2012, she was promoted from Teacher-In-Charge to Head Teacher III. While in service, she continues to comply with her requirements for ranking in the principal position. Her leadership and management established and strengthened a strong connection between the school and the barangay. During Saguibin Festival preparation and performance days, the community and the Barangay Council have extended their full support as requested by Mrs. Navarra. She continuously extends her helping hands to all. She does not just command but also acts. According to her, “agud mahuya nga indi magbulig it ubra do students, ikaw mismo nga teacher hay mag-ubra man agud mahuya sanda.” This statement had a significant impact on the teachers.
From 2014 to 2015, she was promoted to Principal I at Petronilo C. Ibadlit National High School and finally returned to Bacan National High School in 2015. She served at Bacan National High School for more than six years until she retired in 2021 at age 65.
Her journey never stops, because according to her, “do akon nga alarm clock ag biometrics adlaw-adlaw hay do mag-adto sa among farm sa baryo ag mag-alaga it mga kasapatan.” Mrs. Navarra is a very dedicated and disciplinarian, a small but terrible woman because, despite her short stature, all students feared and obeyed her commands.
SIGNIFICANCE
Spiritual
As the first teacher and school head of Mangan National High School, she initiated the conduct of a monthly holy mass every first Wednesday of the month. She believed this advocacy would help learners be God-fearing, motivated to attend school regularly, and study well. This kind of activity has been practiced and sustained up to the present.
Political
One of the most important characteristics a leader must possess is the ability to protect and watch over the general welfare of the constituents. Mrs. Shirley R. Navarra has initiated a partnership with the Barangay Council of Mangan and other private individuals to construct perimeter fences on the school's borders for the learners' safety since the school is unsecured due to the absence of protective walls.
Aesthetic
During the visitation of the former Education Program Supervisor in Social Studies, Mrs. Corazon G. Beluso, at Mangan National High School, she suggested that Mrs. Navarra construct a pergola at the school's entrance in the year 2011. The school’s pergola is an arch designed with Greek-Roman pillars and carvings. It served as motivation to other secondary schools in the district to build their own too. Mrs. Navarra acted by soliciting from the Barangay Council and private individuals and negotiating with Punong Barangay, Hon. Relito R. Revecensio, to construct the school's pergola as one of its symbols. The construction of the school's stage at Mangan National High School and Petronilo Ibadlit Sr. National High School can also be associated with her efforts.
REFERENCES
KEY INFORMANT/S:
REFERENCE/S AND OTHER RESOURCES:
NAME OF PROFILER/ MAPPER:
LANGUAGE EDITOR:
LAYOUT ARTIST:
CONTENT EVALUATORS:
WIKI EDITOR:
- SERVIAM N. NILLASCA, Special Education Teacher I, Banga Elementary School
APPROVED:
- RUBY AGNES B. ESTRADA, PhD , Education Program Supervisor
DATE PROFILED
