God’s work for APC through Ate Jen

APC teachers

For Ate Jen, the vision is clear for APC that runs a culture and ecology school in Bendum – for the Indigenous teachers to take pride in their leadership roles and to inspire students. We are forever grateful for the gift of her life among us, and it is with much gratitude yet loneliness we say goodbye to Jen as she pursues other paths in her life and career.

Jenny Lynn Lee, or Ate Jen, as she is more fondly called, embodied true servant leadership to both her co-teachers and the Pulangiyēn students under her care in APC. She managed the APC school in the last 10 years, and she did this so well that APC management was able to transition to Indigenous leadership this year that involved the building of teachers’ capacities and exploring ways forward for an Indigenous school in the uplands of Bukidnon.

Her leadership as the APC School Manager extended far beyond the classroom as she balanced mentorship and her role as a big sister to many. For her co-teacher Didang, Jen is her go-to person for advice on personal decisions, budgeting, and even life’s more challenging moments.

People recognize Jen’s initiatives in teacher learning and development. She advocated the transition from traditional teaching strategies to more modern approaches, particularly with the use of computers. As most of the teachers were not familiar with computers, Jen took the time to teach them.

She also organized seminars to help teachers improve their record-keeping and lesson planning skills. Jen is a perfectionist and encouraged teachers to grow and step out of their comfort zones so that they overcome their shyness and improve their self-confidence.

To foster a collective learning environment, Jen grouped the teachers into larger teams, paired them off, and tested their understanding through individual tasks that led to improved teamwork. Jen’s management style is strict but understood as a form of tough love.

Jen is not known for counting the hours or taking holidays, often working beyond the typical work week, even on weekends. This was a learning curve for her co-teachers who later realized that Jen’s dedication comes from her passion for education and her desire to see the students and her colleagues succeed. She is always willing to step in when things got tough, offering solutions to make workloads more manageable for her team.

Simple living is the key value attributed to Jen. In terms of her legacy, her colleagues emphasize her work ethic and leadership. “She helps co-teachers build capacities in new teaching strategies, particularly through technology. She taught them how to use laptops and tablets, skills they would not have acquired without her guidance.”

Jen’s influence on the community cannot be overlooked, particularly her compassion for the students. Jen is always willing to give – whether it was knowledge, material support, or emotional encouragement. Jen is someone with a deep understanding of people’s needs, always finding solutions even when the challenges seemed impossible. Jen also instilled in them the importance of saving for the future.

More importantly, Jen’s respect for Indigenous cultures, especially the Pulangiyēn community, is a testament to her servant leadership. She makes efforts to learn about the community’s customs and practices, seeking to deepen her understanding of their way of life. She always aims to mediate, reconcile, and offer advice, while sensitive to the community’s traditions.

Jen’s colleagues have a deep sense of gratitude and admiration for her work and the systems she put in place in the APC school. As she moves on in new directions, her influence looms large particularly in how teachers manage classes and students. Her dedication, passion, accompaniment, and commitment to education has a lasting impact on the teachers, students, and the wider community. Her presence is greatly missed.

Mercy, another co-teacher, echoes these sentiments and who shared her deep gratitude for what Jen shared of her life and her passion – God’s work – while at APC: “May she find peace of mind and good health. Because of her, I’ve become a more responsible worker. Her management and training helped me grow. We miss her, and we hope she realizes how much of an impact she had here.”