2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 1
Available Online: 24 January 2026
Author/s:
Tagtag, Leah Anne L.*
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Graduate School, Tagudin Campus, Philippines (leahannerun@gmail.com)
Sanchez, Geremy G.
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Graduate School, Tagudin Campus, Philippines (geremy.sanchez@deped.gov.ph)
Abstract:
Despite the Department of Education’s continuous initiatives to improve multigrade instruction, limited research explores the transformative experiences of neophyte multigrade teachers, particularly in remote contexts such as Suyo District, Ilocos Sur. Most prior studies have focused on the general experiences of multigrade teachers, leaving a gap in understanding how beginning teachers navigate personal and professional transformation in complex multigrade settings. This study aimed to explore and understand the narratives of neophyte multigrade teachers to (1) examine their experiences of transformation, (2) identify their needs, and (3) propose contextualized interventions responsive to their realities. Using a Narrative Qualitative Design grounded in Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the study gathered data from 11 criterion-selected participants across eight multigrade schools through unstructured interviews. Results revealed that participants underwent a leap shift from confusion and unpreparedness to empowerment and resilience. Despite challenges such as heavy workload, limited learning materials, and professional isolation, they developed coping mechanisms through reflection, peer collaboration, and self-care. Transformation emerged as they reframed struggles into opportunities for growth and meaning-making. The study concluded that personal adaptability must be supported by institutional mechanisms such as mentoring, contextualized training, and responsive policies to sustain teacher growth.
Keywords: rising beyond the odds, transformative journeys, multigrade teachers, Suyo District
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26011
Cite this article:
Tagtag, L. A. L., & Sanchez, G. G. (2026). Rising beyond the odds: A transformative journeys of neophyte multigrade teachers in Suyo District. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(1), 223-236. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26011
* Corresponding Author