The Schools Division of Marikina City became an independent Division after Marikina was converted into a highly urbanized city by virtue of Republic Act 8223. It was inaugurated on January 2, 1998 with Dr. Abella C. Macarandan, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent as Officer-In-Charge. She held office at the historic Gabaldon building within the premises of Marikina Elementary School.
On April 14, 1999, Dr. Jerome G. Mendoza, former Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Manila was assigned as DepEd-Marikina’s first Schools Division Superintendent.
In the year 2000, a three-storey building was constructed through the initiative of the then city mayor, Bayani Fernando.
Dr. Mendoza was joined three months later by Dr. Flordeliza R. Mayari, former Regional Science Supervisor and Assistant Chief of the Elementary Division of DepEd-NCR, as the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent. With Dr. Mendoza at the helm, he initiated the DepEd-Marikina’s Education Journal where abstracts of scientific researches on teaching innovations, best practices and other related topics saw print in that quarterly publication.
Dr. Mendoza’s passing in 2003 prompted Dr. Flordeliza R. Mayari to take the rein of leadership as Officer In-Charge and continued the programs and projects of her predecessor. One of the milestones in her journey as an administrator was the birth of the Schools First Initiative Chronicle. The core of that body of work was an array of valuable and crucial data, tested and systematic teaching approaches, and principles of shared governance which were expected to serve as antidote to the decline in the quality of education.
When Dr. Mayari was transferred to the Schools Division of Valenzuela, Dr. Eduardo V. Lopez took over her post. Strengthening the computerization program of the Division on student enrolment, student classification, class scheduling, attendance tracking, performance assessment and school reporting topped his priority programs. Working collaboratively with him was Dr. Danilo S. Gutierrez, the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, whose pet project, Festival of Action Researches with solid backing from the city government of Marikina, became a trend setter in the National Capital Region.
Retirement beckoned Dr. Lopez to vacate the highest post in the Division. Filling the void was Dr. Elizabeth E. Quesada who was assigned Officer In-Charge. She put much premium on effective and efficient governance, and strengthened the culture of innovation and transparency through the internal audit system in organization. It was during her term that the full implementation of the Rationalization Plan, a reform in the systems, commenced. Also, she steered the Division in launching and implementing three flagship programs – the first ever e-learning, the production of Digitized Learning Materials (DLM) in all subjects areas in the elementary level, and the Division Reading Enhancement and Mentoring Culture (DREAM C). She got valuable support from Dr. Benjamin D. Samson, the Assistant School Division Superintendent, in the implementation of thrusts and program of the Division.