Dr. Baltazar new HS Principal

Dr. Baltazar shares her thoughts about being the new principal of the High School Department

With the retirement of Mrs. Cristina M. Aliwalas, Dr. Juliet M. Baltazar was appointed as the new High School Principal effective on April 1, 2014.

Dr. Baltazar has been teaching in SSC-R Manila for 25 years until her appointment as principal. She started June of 1989 as a regular faculty member. Then in 1994, she became the Feedback Adviser. She was promoted as the Subject Area Adviser for English in 2002, and finally, as the Coordinator for Academic Affairs in 2009.

“It’s a different story when you are a principal from just an academic coordinator or a teacher, because this time I won’t have a chance to teach anymore, my concentration would be my position as principal,” Dr. Baltazar stated after being asked as to how she felt about her newly appointed position. She said that she would miss teaching for she would be devoting most of her time to her new duties and obligations.

Moreover, Dr. Baltazar said that she was informed as one of the candidates in the preliminary selection for principal last year. She even shared that she wasn’t surprised but she wasn’t also very happy. “Honestly, the initial reaction wasn’t good because I refuse this position; because I know how much responsibility it entails.”

Her plans for the high school department include strengthening the foundation laid out by the previous administrations and realizing the main goal of SSC-R, Manila, which is to give the students quality education. She also acknowledged the accomplishments of Mrs. Aliwalas and promised to try her best to live up to the expectations of the whole department.

Dr. Baltazar also emphasized the significance of being re-accredited Level III by the PAASCU. This status is only given to a few schools in the Philippines. “I think that’s the most crucial: to belong to an accredited school because parents and other people will automatically consider our school as an institution that thrives for progress, for improvement, and for change. In that case, the school will always try to accomplish something, quality education most especially.”

Patricia Elena A. Manalili