Abby Aquino began her career as a high school English teacher in the Philippines. Teaching was familiar and something she loved. When she moved to the United States, however, she did not think she would teach again. English is not her first language, and she worried her accent would make it hard to connect with students. She questioned whether she belonged in an American classroom.

Those fears grew during her early work as a substitute teacher in high school English classes. Some students mocked her accent, and she often went home feeling discouraged. She began to wonder if teaching was still the right path for her.

Everything changed when Abby started working in Special Education classrooms and later became a permanent substitute in the Life Enrichment Education Program (LEEP), which supports students with complex disabilities and communication needs as they build academic, social-emotional, communication, and life skills. There, she learned that teaching is not about perfect grammar or pronunciation. It is about building trust, creating a safe space, and caring for students. Her students helped her realize that her passion and skills were stronger than her fears.

With the support of the LEEP team and colleagues who believed in her, Abby found her purpose again. Today, her focus is on helping students become more independent and confident in their daily lives. As Abby shared, “I’m proud to be part of Clackamas Education Service District—a community that sees potential in everyone, whether it’s a student learning their address or a teacher from the Philippines overcoming her fears.”

One experience at Clackamas High School stands out. Abby worked with a student experiencing  echolalia, a communication difference where a person repeats words or questions instead of answering them. Over time, Abby was able to teach him her name. One day, the student’s father shared how proud he was that his son knew who Abby was, but he also shared that his son did not know his own father’s name.

That moment stayed with Abby. When she later returned to Clackamas High School after a teaching assignment at Oregon City High School, her first goal was to teach that student his father’s name. She did it in just three days. From there, they continued learning his mother’s name, his address, and his phone number. Today, the student can say and write his personal information.

This is what Abby loves most about her work. She finds joy in seeing students gain confidence, watching them proudly use new skills, and hearing from families about positive changes at home. She also values the teamwork in her classroom and the way staff work together to support student independence.