#MeetTheTeacherAtSEEC | Meet the heart behind Special Em’s professional excellence

To open the #MeetTheTeacheratSEEC series, Special Em’s is honored to introduce Ms. Dung Vu, our Programme Director. More than a professional leader, she has been instrumental in shaping the core values of Special Em’s: understanding, respecting individual differences, and believing in the potential of every child.

Behind every step of a child’s progress is the unwavering support of many people. At Special Em’s, Ms. Dung is one of those who has dedicated more than 15 years to supporting children and their families through professional expertise, genuine compassion, and the belief that every child can thrive when they are understood and supported in the right way.

Committed to lifelong learning and evidence-based intervention, Ms. Dung is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Management, holds a Master’s degree in School Psychology, and is an International Behavior Analyst (IBA). She is also qualified in educational assessment (YCAT-2), cognitive assessment (WISC-V), and autism screening (GARS-3), etc.

Alongside her professional practice, Ms. Dung serves as a lecturer at Phan Chau Trinh University in Da Nang and as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM-USSH), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), and Saigon International University (SIU). Through her teaching, she mentors university students and aspiring professionals in the field of special education, helping to promote the values of early intervention and inclusive education.

In addition, as a parent support specialist with the Vietnam Autism Network (VAN), Ms. Dung has accompanied numerous families on their journey to better understand their children. By sharing evidence-based knowledge and practical guidance, she empowers parents with the confidence to support their children’s development. For Ms. Dung, learning is a lifelong commitment, as every new piece of knowledge serves one purpose: creating greater opportunities for children and their families.

As the Academic Director of Special Em’s, Ms. Dung works closely with the team to develop the center’s professional direction, design intervention programs, train teachers and therapists, and continuously strengthen our systems to provide a high-quality, child-centered, and compassionate learning environment. She believes that the quality of intervention is never the achievement of one individual alone, but the result of a united team that shares the same philosophy, embraces continuous learning, and is committed to every child’s growth.

Beyond her professional expertise, Ms. Dung inspires our team to keep learning, growing, and striving for excellence. She firmly believes that when every teacher is given opportunities to develop and every specialist is listened to and supported, these positive values naturally extend to every child and every family. This belief has helped foster a collaborative culture where professional excellence goes hand in hand with empathy and responsibility.

What makes Ms. Dung deeply respected by both families and colleagues is not only her strong professional foundation, but also her patience, her willingness to listen, and her ability to see the potential in every child. To her, every milestone—no matter how small—is worth celebrating, because it reflects the love, trust, and dedication shared by families, educators, and the children themselves.

“Every child has potential. What truly matters is whether we have enough understanding, enough patience, and enough commitment to support each child in growing in the way that is best for them.”

This belief has guided Ms. Dung throughout her professional journey and continues to be the value that Special Em’s hopes to share with every family as they walk alongside their children on the path of growth. 💙