A proud alumna of the Philippine Normal University, and the Vice President of the Philippine Normal University Global Alumni Association (PNUGAA) for Australia and Asia, Dr. Ma Bernadette Andres-Salgarino has built a distinguished, three-decade career centered on a profound and unwavering commitment to equity, racial and social justice, and transformative leadership in education. Her journey from the classrooms of Manila to the highest levels of educational policy in California serves as a powerful testament to her PNU foundation — a legacy beautifully recognized in her selection as a prestigious 2026 PNU Gawad Sulo recipient.

In a historic and groundbreaking achievement, Dr. Andres-Salgarino serves as the first Filipino President of the California Mathematics Council (CMC) in 2024-2025. In this role, she leads a statewide organization of 5,000 educators, championing initiatives that promote rigorous, challenging, and equitable mathematics programs for all students.

Her sphere of influence extends throughout the state. Dr. Andres-Salgarino, formerly the Assistant Director of STEAM, Santa Clara County Office of Education, is currently the Region 1 Equity & Justice Department staff for the California Teachers Association (CTA), the foremost professional organization for educators in the state with 310,000 members. In this capacity, she oversees and supports professional development for educators across 17 counties along California’s Pacific Coast, co-leads the implementation of Community Schools, and serves as the expert consultant supporting CTA’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee to advocate for impactful statewide policies.

Dr. Andres-Salgarino is a preeminent voice in the movement to dismantle systemic inequities in education. She is a sought-after author, contributing to critical works like “Antiracist Mathematics Education: Stories of Acknowledgment, Action, and Accountability” and the TODOS Position Statement on Antiracist Mathematics. Her work consistently challenges educators to “rehumanize mathematics” and implement culturally and linguistically sustaining instruction.

Globally, she is an acclaimed international speaker and the visionary creator of the R.E.A.L. Leadership Framework. Specially designed to elevate and empower leaders of color, R.E.A.L. stands for Restorative, Emancipatory, Accessible, Liberatory, and Limitless Leadership—offering a groundbreaking path forward for equity-driven organizations worldwide.

Her leadership is grounded in deep academic and practical expertise. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Mathematics and has been a pivotal member of the committee that developed both the 2013 and 2023 California Mathematics Frameworks, shaping the state’s official guidance for math instruction for over a decade. As a researcher, she has served as Principal Investigator for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant focused on supporting positive computer science identities among Latinx girls.

Driven by an enduring passion for systemic change, Dr. Andres-Salgarino continues to break barriers and build bridges across educational landscapes. Ultimately, her life’s work is about creating enduring pipelines of opportunity, ensuring that every educator is empowered to lead with authenticity and every student is given the freedom to excel. Through her profound advocacy, global framework, and paradigm-shifting leadership, she is not merely participating in the future of education—she is actively redefining it.