Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Mrs. Lourdes Ferrer — A Detour That Defined a Destiny

For Lourdes Ferrer, teaching wasn’t always the plan. In fact, it was a long line that changed the course of her life.

“I was planning to sign up for a nursing course,” she said, smiling. “But the line was so long. I didn’t have time to wait, so I looked for the shortest one — and that was education.”

Ferrer laughs now but looking back, she believes it may have been fate — or something bigger — that nudged her in the right direction.

“It was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “Maybe it was meant to be.” 

Still, even as she tells that story, Ferrer acknowledges that her heart may have already known the answer. “It was always in my heart,” she said. “Because why else did I end up becoming a teacher?” 

Now a math resource teacher at Gaithersburg High School, Ferrer has spent the past 11 years shaping the lives of students and educators. As Montgomery County Public Schools honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Ferrer’s story stands as a testament to perseverance, faith and purpose. 

Ferrer began her teaching career in the Philippines in 1995. In 2006, she was among a group of 66 educators recruited to teach in Baltimore. Leaving her husband and young child behind, she arrived in the United States alone and overwhelmed. 

“My first three days, I cried,” she recalled. “I called my husband and told him I wasn’t sure I could do it. But he said, ‘You can come home, just help me pay off the loans first.’” 

Determined to stay, she leaned on the support of her new community. “The church, friends, people I didn’t even know — they helped me through it,” Ferrer said. “And I told myself, ‘Let me finish one year.’ Then another. It got better.”

After some time in New Mexico and Arizona, Ferrer found her way to Montgomery County in 2014 — seeking stability, opportunity and a sense of belonging. She found all that at Gaithersburg High School. 

“This is my 11th year,” she said. “And I always say, I have no plans of going anywhere else. I found my family here.” 

As the head of a department of 20 teachers, Ferrer is known not only for her instructional leadership, but also for the care she shows others.

“I support my teachers. I acknowledge their strengths. And when I can, I coach them,” she said. “I believe one measure of leadership is how well you help others grow.” 

That belief is more than words. Ferrer became the first National Board Certified teacher in her department. Today, she’s helped guide two more to certification and is encouraging several others to begin the journey. 

“She is the embodiment of excellence,” said Gaithersburg Principal Brittany Love-Campbell. “ She’s deeply committed to her students, supports her colleagues, and leads with grace and intention.” 

Assistant Principal Kisheena Wanzer agreed: “She never stops learning and she brings people with her. That's what makes her so special.” 

Students notice Ferrer’s impact too. 

“Mrs. Ferrer helped me build my confidence,” said Nyx, a senior. “She always made time to work with me one on one. Her patience, her belief in me — that meant everything.” 

Ferrer credits her third grade teacher as the first person to show her what that belief can do. “I know how it feels to be helped — to have someone see something in you,” she said. “That’s what I try to do for my students.” 

When asked what she hopes students remember, her answer is simple: “That someone believed in them.” 

Ferrer sees Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as a time for reflection, celebration and unity. 

“Personally, it means being proud of where I came from and sharing the beauty of our cultures,” she said. “Professionally, it’s about helping students see that they’re not alone — that their culture is something to be proud of.” 

She worked with students to plan the school’s first Heritage Month celebration last year. This year, they expanded it with food, games and cultural presentations — and with an open invitation. 

“You don’t have to be Asian to participate,” she said “This is about sharing. It’s about connection — between students, between cultures, between generations.” 

Despite years of experience, Ferrer says she still learns something new each year — often from her students. Her passion for teaching, especially math, remains as strong as ever. 

“I’ve been in math competitions since I was in third grade,” she said. “There’s something about solving a problem that keeps me going. If I can't figure it out right away, I won't stop until I do.” 

It’s that same persistence — born from her parents, her faith and her Filipino roots — that continues to guide her work. 

“We didn’t have free books, free pencils, free lunch back home,” she said. “That’s why I value what we have here. And I want to make sure my students and teachers value it, too.” 

As she reflects on her journey, Ferrer gives credit where she believes it’s due. 

“I’m not saying I’m religious,” she said softly. “But I do believe it’s not by my own strength. It’s by the Spirit of God that I’m able to do what I do.”