Arlene Tordecilla Ferrolino

The Joy of Sharing Music: How It Determined the Course of My Life

Pianist • Music Educator • Advocate

Arlene’s background combines bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and English from the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) with post-graduate work in piano performance and collaborative piano at The Colburn School of Performing Arts and the University of Southern California (USC). She is a professional pianist, organist, accompanist, classroom teacher and church musician, a nationally renowned piano adjudicator, clinician, and lecturer. As the first Asian president of the Board of Directors for the Glendale Branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of California, she served three terms. In addition, she is the historic first president of the Board of Directors of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), the first and only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines. In 2018 she was awarded outstanding alumna by the AUP AWESNA (AUP alumni of North America). She recently received the Filipina Women’s Network award as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World 2021. Also, she received the Outstanding Teacher Award 2021 from Steinway and Sons. As a music educator and advocate, she enjoys sharing the joy of music with her students and the community locally and globally.

Bernadette Mondejar-Schlueter, Ed.D.

Finding My Why

Resourceful • Persistent • Flexible

Dr. Bernadette Mondejar-Schlueter is an educator and school administrator who has worked in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Guam, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. She is currently the principal of Feltwell Elementary School on the Royal Air Force Feltwell base in Norfolk, England. She received the 2010 Scroll of Appreciation from US Forces Korea General Walter L. Sharp for her dedication to the education of US military children. In addition, she was the 2012 Teacher of the Year for the Korea District and was one of the Filipina Women’s Network Most Influential Filipina Women of the World in 2016. Dr. Mondejar-Schlueter writes for Educator’s High, a regular column published in the Philippines. She was selected as the Best Newspaper Columnist of the Year in 2021 at the Eastern Visayas Media Awards. She wrote two children’s books, Maya and Her Loyal Friends and Adventures of Maya: The Lost Fields of Palale, translated into Tagalog, Waray, German, and Italian. Her coloring book, Pinoy Life, showcases Filipino customs and traditions. She loves running and traveling with her husband, Richard. She has completed 438 marathons and ultramarathons in 47 countries on six continents.

Cynthia Rapaido, Ed.D.

From Military Brat to Educational Leader: A Filipina-American Journey

Mentor • Leader • Teacher

Cynthia Rapaido received her Ed.D. with an emphasis in International and Multicultural Education and her M.A. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Organization and Leadership from USF. She earned her B.S. in Biology from SDSU. Her dissertation was titled “Filipino American Educational Leaders in Northern California K–12 Public Schools: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Her 31 years of educational leadership and teaching experience include: 5 years as a principal, 17 years as an assistant principal, and 9 years science teacher, all at the high school level. In addition, her experience in higher education includes being an adjunct faculty member as a lecturer, doctoral advisor, and field supervisor for teacher candidates. In 2011, FWN honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the United States in the category “Builders and Emerging Leaders.” In 2013, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) honored her for exemplary performance in promoting the success of all students and was given the State award, “Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year.” In 2014, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) honored her for outstanding, active, and front-line leadership. She received the national award “Assistant Principal of the Year State Finalist” for the State of California.