Tacloban native is among world's most influential Filipina

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) –- A native of this city is one of the recipients of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World in 2016.

Bernadette Schlueter, 44, is the only one with Filipino ancestry from Eastern Visayas nominated to the prestigious award. She is currently the principal of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) American School at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) based in Casteau, Belgium. This is the position she held for the last two years.

Shape Elementary School is under the Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and one of the 181 schools in 14 districts located in 12 foreign countries, seven states, Guam and Puerte Rico.

SHAPE is the biggest of the 13 international schools in the NATO installation in Casteau, Belgium. There are 600 students enrolled in the school with the large percentage of Americans and the others are students from 28 NATO member countries and 22 partnership for peace nations.

She is an educator who has always taken leadership roles she was assigned to. She was assistant principal at CDR William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School in Guam, as a teacher in Korea and Japan, and as the school administrator of JE Mondejar Computer College in Tacloban City. 

Among her awards as a teacher was Korea District Teacher of the Year in 2012 and Awardee of the Scroll of Appreciation from US Forces Korea General Walter Sharp in 2010.

Schlueter was nominated under the Builders category by Leonor S. Vintervoll, founder of Philippine Women's Organization Resource Center based in Oslo, Norway.

Builders, according to the FWN website have demonstrated exceptional business impact at a large workplace environment; displaying deep passion for a cause through collaborative initiatives or alliances with corporations or nonprofit organizations on behalf of her own organization; demonstrates high potential and skill with measurable result.

The awarding is one of the highlights of the 13th Filipina Leadership Global Summit, a gathering of influential Filipina around the world is slated on Aug. 21 to 24, 2016 at Shangrila Hotel, Cebu City.

These Filipina women made a difference through their leadership and influence in their respective fields and communities globally creating a change in the world of Filipinas in diaspora.

There will be an action group discussions, reflections, collaborations, book launching and sharing to help gain insights on the future leadership of Filipina woman in the global workplace.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Loren Legarda are among the distinguished speakers in the three-day event.(PNA)
JMC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR