It Takes a Big Heart to Shape Little Minds: Lived Experiences of International Filipino Early Childhood Special Education Teachers in the United States

• Jullius Cezar Laylo

  Special Education Teacher Minnesota, USA

1. Jullius Cezar Laylo (Special Education Teacher Minnesota, USA)
   This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Filipino international early childhood special education teachers in teaching students with special needs in US early childhood settings. This study used Georgi’s (2009) descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants of the study were Filipino international early childhood special education teachers who have at least 3 years of teaching experience in early childhood multi-intensive setting for students with special needs and were selected using purposive sampling technique. Researcher-made interview guide was used to collect the data from the participants and was validated by the experts in qualitative research. Data were collected using individual in-depth interview and were analyzed using Georgi’s (2009) descriptive phenomenological method using epoche, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation and synthesis. Results revealed that Filipino international early childhood special education teachers experienced transformative personal and professional growth, navigating challenges in instruction and behavior management. They celebrated student successes, adapted to U.S. cultural and institutional norms, and integrated Filipino values. These experiences strengthened their professional identity, sense of belonging, and commitment to inclusive early childhood education.

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