At one time, Quezon was under the jurisdiction of various provinces. In 1858, the central portion was under the authority of Batangas. The northern portion was divided between Laguna and Nueva Ecija while the other portion was divided between the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, and Camarines.

In 1591, Tayabas was created into a province under the name of Kalilayan. On March 12, 1901, the civil government was established in Tayabas with Lucena as its capital with the late Hon. Cornelius Gardiner as its first governor. On June 12, 1902, the district of El Principe (now known as Aurora), then a dependency of Laguna, was annexed to Tayabas.

The Provincial Government of Quezon with Taxpayer Identification Number 600-000633-148 is exempt from income tax and is registered with General (Overall) Public Service Activities as line of business/industry.

It was June 1901 when the first establishment of the educational system was recorded in the Province of Quezon, formerly called Tayabas. It was Sir Harrison S. Korrick who became the first Division Superintendent holding Cavite, Batangas, Tayabas and Marinduque. In October of 1901, Tayabas Province was given a Deputy Schools Division Superintendent in the person of John C. Muerman. Tayabas Province’s headquarters was situated in Lucena. Mr. Muerman led the Tayabas Province’s education system for five years. American soldiers occupying the province educated the masses through the selection of intelligent young boys whom they taught the three R’s - reading, writing, and arithmetic. Those who learned best served as teachers to others. During this period, Gabaldon building type halls were established to serve as their classrooms.

In October 1902, Tayabas Provincial High School, now called Quezon National High School, was established by Mr. Aubrey Boyles and Mr. Henry Balch. The establishment of the provincial high school brought bigger opportunity for Quezonians to attain and experience formal education after the Spanish regime. The establishment of this school marked progress in literacy in the province.

From that year, different superintendents, most of which were Americans, managed the schools and educational system in the province. The names of Division Superintendents and the inclusive dates of their leadership are listed below in Table 1.

Leadership and Expansion (1997–Present)

From 1997 – 2007, the division was managed by Mrs. Azucena O. Romulo, followed by Mrs. Gloria P. Potes from 2007 – 2012. Dr. Tolentino G. Aquino managed the division from May 2012 – January 2016.

On September 26, 2012, another division from the Quezon Province was given birth through the leadership of Dr. Tolentino G. Aquino, SDS of Quezon Province and Regional Director Dr. Lorna Dig Dino, and the initiative of Mayor Alandy Silang of Tayabas City and Dr. Gener de los Reyes, Principal of Luis Palad NHS and. By virtue of Section 49 of RA 9398 also known as “An Act Converting the Municipality of Tayabas in the Province of Quezon into a Component City to be known as City of Tayabas”, the City Schools Division of Tayabas was established.

In 2015, the whole Department of Education underwent the Rationalization Program in accordance with DepEd Order No. 52, s. 2015 (New Organizational Structure of the Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices of the Department of Education). DepEd Quezon immediately and actively complied with the said rationalization program.

After Dr. Tolentino G. Aquino, the Division of Quezon was headed by Dr. Merthel M. Evardome, CESO VI. She started her journey as Assistant Schools Division Superintendent in 2013 and assumed SDS post in the Division of Antipolo in January 2014. She transferred to the Division of Laguna in July 2015 and after six months on January 6, 2016, she was appointed back to the Schools Division of Quezon as Schools Division Superintendent. During her term, the Schools Division Office of Quezon continued to flourish and excel in many areas of governance. DepEd Quezon was hailed as the second-Best Performing Division in Region IV-A in 2017 and the first Best Performing Division in Region IV-A in 2018. The Division’s Brigada Eskwela was also awarded the Hall of Fame Award twice in the National Brigada Eskwela. Lots of awards and recognitions were received by the Division in sports, journalism, research, and others. Facilities and physical improvements are noticeable and most importantly the quality of service of all personnel is gearing towards excellence. The Division of Quezon was a winner on Innovations in Leadership, Governance and Management - Institutional Leadership and Direction Setting during the 6th Excellence in Educational Transformation Awards given by Bayan Academy in cooperation with ABS-CBN Foundation, Rex Bookstore, Knowledge Channel and DepEd, Garden Ballroom, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong on November 19, 2019.

During the leadership of Dr. Merthel M. Evardome, DepEd Quezon encompasses 953 schools: 771 of which are Elementary Schools and 182 are Secondary schools. Out of the 182 schools, 166 are offering Senior High School Programs. These schools are distributed in four congressional districts of Quezon. Quezon Province is composed of 1,543 barangays. Together with Dr. Evardome are three Assistant Schools Division Superintendents namely: Dr. Gerlie M. Ilagan, Nadine C. Celindro and Dr. Juan Araojo Jr. who was later on replaced by OIC-ASDS Buddy Chester Repia. Serving with them in the field are 57 Public Schools District Supervisors, 271 Elementary School Principals, 107 Secondary School Principals, 45 Head Teachers and 310 Teacher-In-Charge.

Call it a home homecoming. After six years of fulfilling her duties as Schools Division Superintendent in other divisions of CALABARZON, destiny has fetched Dr. Catherine Talavera, CESO V back to DepEd Quezon. This time, she is called to spearhead a mission in leading the division towards excellence. Being the new SDS, she outlined her leadership agenda upon assuming office on November 5, 2020.

Meanwhile, doors of opportunity opened for ASDS Gerlie Ilagan and ASDS Buddy Chester Repia to give more of their leadership potential outside DepEd Quezon. ASDS Ilagan’s new assignment as ASDS in Lucena City division comes both as a challenge and an outlet for her passion in mounting an excellent work culture. Likewise, ASDS Repia’s assignment will perhaps spur his flair in innovations to the fullest venturing into a new home with San Pablo City’s DepEd community.

The successors of ASDSs equally beckon positive impulses to deliver the best services to the division. DepEd Quezon welcomed new ASDSs in the likes of ASDS Elias A. Alicaya Jr from Cavite Province, OIC - ASDS Gregorio A. Co, Jr. from Imus City, and OIC – ASDS Herbert D. Perez from our hometown, Sariaya District.

DepEd Quezon continued to inspire believing firmly that education is an important foundation for a successful life. Trust is the foundation of all we do.

While other institutions claim to be a center of excellence, DepEd Quezon simply owns it. The excellent work culture DepEd Quezon has been keeping through the years is an offspring of equally competent leaders we have through the years.

DepEd Quezon experienced a hands-on leadership approach under Dr. Catherine P. Talavera. She has stayed with SDO Quezon as the Schools Division Superintendent from November 2019 till July 2020. Her 8-month stay leaves sharp outlines of leadership legacies that SDO Quezon ever experienced. Yet, there is always a time to make choices – not least among them is SDS Talavera who opted to retire in July 30, 2020.

This unanticipated event sealed Dr. Elias A. Alicaya, Jr.’s destiny. Dr. Alicaya, the designated Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, has become DepEd Quezon’s OIC-SDS in August 2020. With a brave soul and God-centered disposition, Dr. Alicaya accepted the challenge.

The arrival of Dr. Gregorio T. Mueco as the newly installed OIC-ASDS completed the casting. Dr. Mueco, popularly known as the second Greg (GM) of DepEd Quezon, was officially welcomed on September 2, 2020, at SDO Quezon’s Library Hub. Likewise, Dr. Alicaya was also given a warm welcome as the OIC-SDS.

What followed is an anticipation of greater possibilities and opportunities awaiting SDO Quezon. True enough, DepEd Quezon has successfully passed ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit by the External Auditing Party: Certification Partner Global (CPG) on September 4, 2020.

Fast forward, DepEd Quezon welcomed the new ASDS Edward D. Garcia on February 13, 2023. He succeeded ASDS Gregorio Co Jr who transferred to Cabuyao City division after serving DepEd Quezon for two years and eight months.

Transition of leadership comes as a great opportunity to experience diverse management styles and potentials. This is particularly true to SDO Quezon’s context welcoming Dr. Rommel C, Bautista, CESO V, as the new Schools Division Superintendent on April 11, 2023. SDS Bautista took the post vacated by Dr. Elias A. Alicaya Jr who is currently assigned to steer SDO Dasmarinas City Division. Dr. Alicaya served DepEd Quezon for almost three years.

Since SDS Bautista’s leadership started in SDO Quezon, he has led various activities in the province with the vision of provision of high-quality basic education. Current projects of SDO Quezon are anchored on the pillars of the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) and are aligned with “Project KALILAYAN”, a project introduced by SDS Bautista. Project KALILAYAN stands for the following: K” Kumbinsihing pumasok ang mga mag-aaaral at maiwasan ang pagtigil hanggang sila ay makapagtapos”; “A” Angkopan ng nararapat at sapat na mga paaralan, pasilidad, at kagamitan ang mga komunidad”; “L” Likhain ang mga programang magtataguyod sa mga kabataang nasa kalagayang nangangailangan ng higit at agarang pagtugon; “I” Ibigay ang nararapat na serbisyong tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral at kawani nang walang pinipiling kasarian, kultura at paniniwala; “L” Linangin ang kaalaman, kasanayan at pagpapahalaga ng mga mag-aaral at kawani sa iba’t ibang larangang ayon sa kasalukuyang kurikulum; “A” Agapayan ang bawat paaralan sa pagbuo ng kontekstwal na kagamitang pampagtuturo at pag-aaral; “Y” Yakapin ang paggamit ng mga otentikong pagtatasa upang masukat ang nakamit na pagkatuto; “A” Alalayan ang mga mag-aaral at kawani para sa kanilang kaligtasan at kalusugan; and “N” Naising bigyan ng proteksyon ang mga mag-aaral at kawani laban sa anumang uri ng pang-aabuso at karahasan.

Among the projects that were implemented under the leadership of SDS Bautista were Project OSDS, procurement of dental van, renewal of the usufruct agreement for the use of SDO Quezon lot, planning and construction of the new SDO building, and the granting of awards for outstanding employees.

Provision of “Serbisyong Tapat at Sapat” is one of the mantras of SDS Bautista. In line with this, Project Outstanding Support Delivery Services (OSDS) was conceptualized to provide a one-stop shop for various government agencies. Due to the largeness of SDO Quezon, accessing services from various government agencies can be quite difficult and thus, bringing together agencies such as GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, PRC, CSC, and BIR, among others were organized to streamline access to vital services of the government.

SDS Bautista strongly believes in nurturing people. Aside from improving the provision of basic education for students and enhancing the access of employees to vital services of the government, SDS Bautista also places importance on the value of people. As such, SDS Bautista introduced the grant of on-the spot awards such as “Serbisyong Tapat”, “Serbisyong Sapat”, and “Salamat po”. These awards were introduced to encourage and recognize the creativity, innovativeness, efficiency, productivity, integrity, and exemplary behavior in public service of employees in DepEd Quezon. Likewise, these awards also aim to recognize stakeholders and partners who extended help and support to improve the delivery of basic education in the province.

Supporting SDS Bautista are ASDSs Edward Garcia, Greg Mueco, and Herbert Perez who were later on replaced by ASDSs Venus T. Balmedina, Roselyn Q. Golfo, and Joepi F. Falqueza. On July 2025, ASDS Balmedina transferred to SDO Camarines Sur. OIC-ASDS Lorena S. Walangsumbat, former Chief of the Curriculum Instruction Division (CID) of DepEd Quezon, was appointed as replacement of ASDS Balmedina.

Currently, the Division of Quezon is considered as one of the four very large schools divisions in the Philippines. Based on the latest data from the Planning Section in July 2025, DepEd Quezon has 983 schools: 773 are Elementary and 210 are Secondary schools. Of the 210 Secondary schools, 182 are offering Senior High School Programs. Despite the span of SDO Quezon, SDS Bautista is excellently leading the Division. In February 2025, SDO Quezon was awarded with the prestigious PRIME-HRM Bronze Award in recognition of its exemplary performance and commitment to excellence in human resource management which significantly contributes to the achievement of the vision and mission of the Department of Education.

SDO Quezon keeps its promise to continue sowing seeds of excellence in delivering quality services among its clientele. But this is not a one-man task. It entails everyone’s effort. Truly, shared practices are essential to achieve our goals. Together, we unite to define the power of ONE.