Sonja Miller's passion for teaching

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

HER PASSION for assisting students to read and learn is the motivating factor behind the success of Sonja Miller, who started out as a pre-trained teacher in the early 1970s and is now the vice-principal at the Boundbrook Primary School in Portland.

The long, but rewarding, journey started in 1972 and was born out of sheer desperation for work, and as a result, Sonja's first real job opportunity came after completing a three-month emergency-training course, similar to what takes place at teachers' college.

"Back then, each month represented a year, and as a result, the three-month programme was very compact," Miller related. "It was rigorous training, but upon completion, I started to teach at Morant Bay All Age in St Thomas, which was my first teaching experience. I would, however, move on to Ken Wright Primary after spending two years in St Thomas," she added.

Career halted

But while Miller, who had developed a passion for teaching, was enjoying the classroom, her career was halted for a number of years after becoming pregnant. Based on certain rules at Ken Wright Primary, she was forced to resign her job at that institution.

She continued: "After becoming pregnant with my first child, I was told by school authorities that unless I got married, I had to vacate the job, which sounded a bit erroneous to me at that time. So I left, and as a result, I was out of the school system for more than three years following the birth of my daughter."

Cementing her place

Her journey would reconnect temporarily at Boundbrook Primary when filling in for a teacher who was on maternity leave. Miller started out as a grade three teacher, and by the mid-1980s, she had completed her degree at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education, which allowed her to cement her place at the school.

By 2002, she would have taught all grades at the primary level, which later paved the way for her, based on approximately 20 years of professional teaching experience, to become vice-principal of Boundbrook Primary in charge of the afternoon shift.

Today, the 58-year-old vice-principal is encouraged by commendations received from past students, parents, and the community, which has allowed her to remain loyal and committed to her profession.