Miss Jenine

My posts about self-contained classrooms, even ones I shared months ago continue to gain traction. And with that comes many different opinions.

I genuinely welcome respectful conversations. Special needs education is a complex field, and I believe we all benefit when we can exchange ideas with curiosity and mutual respect.

However, I’ve also realized that discussions about educational placements can quickly become polarized. At some point, the conversation shifts away from supporting learners and toward defending positions. That’s not where I feel I can make the greatest contribution.

My philosophy remains the same: every child deserves an individualized, evidence-informed education based on their unique strengths and support needs.

Rather than focusing on debates about placements, I’d rather focus on what I believe helps families and educators the most—sharing practical, evidence-informed strategies that can be applied in real classrooms and at home.

That has always been the heart of this page.

My goal isn’t to convince everyone to agree with me. My goal is to support parents, empower teachers, and advocate for educational decisions that are thoughtful, individualized, and centered on the child.

To everyone who engages with kindness, asks thoughtful questions, and is willing to learn—even when we don’t completely agree—thank you. I truly appreciate this community, and I look forward to continuing to learn alongside all of you. 💕

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This post discusses recent incidents of violence in Philippine schools. Please take care while reading.

Someone asked me for my thoughts on the recent incidents of violence in schools. Like many people, I was shocked and saddened. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, classmates, and teachers. No child or educator should have to experience something like this, and violence is never okay.

I remember teaching in the United States and participating in active shooter drills. They were never fun. Even though they were only drills, I found myself thinking ahead: Where would I hide my students? Which areas of the classroom were most exposed? How would I keep everyone safe? As a teacher, you quickly realize that your own safety becomes secondary. Your mind immediately goes to the children in your care. It creates a kind of fear that is difficult to explain unless you’ve experienced it.

That’s probably why these recent incidents hit me hard. Beyond the headlines are real classrooms, real teachers, real students, and families whose lives may never be the same. And it also makes me wonder what happened long before that day. Were there warning signs that were missed? Were there opportunities to intervene earlier? Were there supports that could have helped?

This is not to excuse harmful behavior or removing accountability. Violence is never acceptable. But if we truly want safer schools, I believe we also have to talk about prevention. When people hear the words “inclusive” or “trauma-informed” education, they often think only of students with disabilities. To me, it’s about creating schools where ALL students feel seen, connected, supported, and valued before problems grow into crises.

Not every tragedy can be prevented. But every tragedy should push us to reflect on how we can do better. Because school safety is not only about what we do after a crisis. It’s also about what we do long before one happens.