Ms. Aurora Marcellana Pagulayan is an accomplished educator and leader with over four decades of experience in the field of education. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University) in 1965, graduating Magna Cum Laude and receiving the prestigious Princess Urduja Leadership Award. Her academic journey continued with a fellowship that enabled her to pursue a Master of Science in Education at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania (1967–1968).

Her teaching career began at esteemed institutions such as the University of the Philippines Laboratory School and the International School in Makati. In 1968, she moved to the United States, where she worked for Carroll County Public Schools in Westminster, Maryland. Over the years, Aurora served in various capacities, from classroom teacher to resource teacher for the gifted and staff developer. From 1994 to 2007, she held the position of Assistant Principal for the Carroll County Board of Education and also shared her expertise as a guest lecturer at McDaniel College, where she taught graduate courses in education.

A passionate advocate for educational excellence, Aurora dedicated her career to fostering meaningful learning experiences and leadership opportunities for both students and educators. She actively promoted multicultural awareness in schools and the community and facilitated the SPIRIT program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, which aimed to help middle school students combat racism, discrimination, and bullying. Her impactful contributions earned her several accolades, including the 2006 Excellence in Minority Achievement Award from the Achievement Initiative for Maryland’s Minority Students Council.

Beyond her administrative and teaching roles, Aurora contributed to the academic field as an author, publishing “The Twenty-First Century: Education for the Limited English Proficient” and co-authoring “Mathematics for Elementary School Children.”

In addition to her career in education, Aurora has been an active member of various community and church organizations. She has been involved with the Southern Nevada Filipino American Association, organizing fundraising events, and chaired the Simbang Gabi Committee at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, where she also serves on the Pastoral Council. Her extensive work in both education and community service reflects her lifelong commitment to leadership and meaningful change.