MANILA, Philippines – Opportunities rarely arrive neatly packaged, but for Nelli Kim Sia Acejo, a 40-year-old math educator from Subic, Zambales, every challenge became a stepping stone in her inspiring teaching journey from the Philippines to Canada and the USA.
 |
| From the Philippines to Canada and the USA, Nelli Kim Acejo’s LET success paved her path as an inspiring international math teacher. Photo courtesy: Nelli Kim Acejo |
She built her foundation as a DOST-SEI scholar at Columban College, Inc., earning her Bachelor of Science in Math and graduating 2nd Honorable Mention.
Passing the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) in August 2007 became her defining milestone, accomplished while raising a young family, working full-time in the same college as admin secretary and instructor, and reviewing independently with the support of her loving husband, family, and colleagues.
Reflecting on her preparation, she said, “I took 18 education units and did not go through any review center to save money; I reviewed on my own with help from my former professors, and I passed the board exam.”
Her academic journey continued with an MA in Education Major in Math at Bulacan State University, then with Doctor of Education again in Columban College, Inc., and now her ongoing Doctor of Philosophy in Education Major in Math through the University of the Immaculate Conception.
Teaching Across Borders
A new chapter began when her family migrated to Canada, where she taught as a college math instructor at Northern Lights College, Fort St. John Campus, while completing the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program at Vancouver Community College offered to instructors by the same employer.
Determined to become a certified K–12 teacher, she applied for the Bachelor of Education program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus, which was a bold move during the pandemic when relocation seemed risky but was necessary to become certified again.
Despite an initial rejection due to a missing document, she persisted and became the only first-generation Filipino in a cohort of 109 students.
Cultural differences and age gaps could have been discouraging, yet she connected with classmates who shared her values on diversity, perseverance, and professional growth.
Certification opened doors for her to teach secondary math in the Central Okanagan School District 23 and later in the United States, where she now serves under the San Jose Unified School District as a high school math teacher.
She completed her Master of Education at UBC Okanagan, opening doors to opportunities she “never imagined possible.”
Advocacy, Recognition, and Inspiration
Her expertise earned her speaking engagements at major conferences, including the Educators Rising National Conference, the Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and she is scheduled to present again at the Association of Math Teacher Educators (AMTE) in February 2026 and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in March 2026.
She has also served as a judge for competitions like the Canada-Wide Science Fair, National History Day California, Educators Rising Nationals, and the upcoming DiscoverE Future City Competition for Northern California.
 |
| Nelli Kim Acejo at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. |
She also contributed two articles to the Teacher Magazine, the flagship publication of the BC Teachers' Federation. Aside from these, she peer-reviewed a conference presentation for the AMTE National Conference and an article publication for the NCTM Math Teacher: Learning and Teaching (MTLT) PK-12.
Advocacy became central when she founded the Filipino Canadian Educators Association of Canada (FCEAC), supporting Filipino teachers seeking certification and meaningful roles in Canadian school settings.
When offering advice to aspiring educators, she said, “If this is your passion, then go for it. You should have the GRIT to continue even during your most challenging days.”
“Develop a growth mindset, especially when you move to another country, and always advocate for yourself and for others who share your passion,” she emphasized. “Never let anyone or even your past define your limits, because with time, you evolve into a stronger and better version of yourself.”
Looking ahead, she hopes her journey inspires others to embrace courage and persistence, reminding them that “time will pass no matter what you do, so invest it in something that brings you closer to your goals.”
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express