A passion to educate

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

ENSOM CITY, St Catherine:

WHILE SHE was growing up in Garden Hill in deep rural St Catherine, Dr Abigail Cooper wanted to become a nurse. But in 1969 when she became a pre-trained teacher at Garden Hill All-Age School, her alma mater, that was the start of nearly four decades of dedicated service to the teaching profession.

"I didn't decide to change, I just kept on going after I started teaching," the 64-year-old St Joseph's Teachers' College graduate told The Gleaner. In her early years, she also taught at Lluidas Vale All-Age, Eccleston All-Age and Crescent All-Age, all in St Catherine.

However, after completing three years at Crescent All-Age, she wrote her name in the teachers' register at Ensom City All-Age, when it opened its doors in 1976, as one of the first members of staff. In fact, she relocated from Garden Hill to Ensom City, two years before her sojourn at the school from which she retired as vice-principal in 2008.

"The school grew rapidly and I noticed how students excelled. I wanted to be there. I wanted to give and be a part of the community," she recalled, as she spoke passionately about her stay at Ensom City All-Age, which later became Ensom City Primary and Junior High, now Ensom City Primary.

Indelible mark

Dr Cooper's teaching style and interest in her students' development have left an indelible mark on past students Dawnell Rodriquez-Diaz Powell; customer service manager, Universal Freight; and Nadine Powell, auditor; both of whom she taught in grade four.

"She was a wonderful lady," Rodriquez-Diaz Powell told The Gleaner. "Ms Cooper was stern and firm, but she is one of the nicest teachers I've ever had. She wasn't abusive and I can't even remember ever getting a beating from her and those days beatings were prevalent," she reflected.

"She would encourage us to keep up our grades," recalled Nadine Powell. "She always tried to instill values in us," noted Powell, who is secretary to the Ensom City Citizens' Association.

Cooper's passion for community development stimulated her to become integrally involved in several community-based organisations and now serves as the vice-president for the Ensom City Citizens' Association.

"What inspired me most to serve is the gratification I receive after helping someone and then seeing the joy on his or her face from achieving his or her goal," Cooper explained.

Cooper, a past member of the Lions Club of Spanish Town, is presently the vice-president of Women of Worth Group and a member of the hospitality committee at Glad Tidings Open Bible Church.

While her life is filled with many memorable moments, Dr Cooper recounts one of her fondest: "The most unforgettable moment was when I met a student in New Kingston who came running to catch up with me. I taught him as a beginner at Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) who at that time was enrolled at the University of the West Indies."

Her invaluable contribution to the field of education has not gone unnoticed. The accolades include:

• Long service awards for service to Ensom City Primary in 1986, 1989, 2006 and 2008.
• The outstanding vice principal's award from Ensom City Primary School in 2005.
• The Golden Torch Long Service Award from the Jamaica Teachers' Association for 37 years of dedicated service.

She was also lauded by the JFLL for 24 years of service in 2006 and 26 years dedicated service, two years later.

Despite her busy schedule, the visionary, who obtained a Doctor of Christian Counselling degree from Andersonville Theological Seminar Camella, Georgia, USA in August, 2008, still finds time to enjoy reading, cooking, crocheting, sewing and gardening. She has been a member of the St Catherine Horticultural Society since 1994. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in educational administration from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Arts in counselling psychology from the Graduate School of Theology, Kingston.

Cooper presently works as the guidance counsellor at Maths Unlimited, and serves as a part-time teacher at the JFLL, while doing voluntary service, in the area of counselling.

Throughout her life, Cooper, the proud mother of one daughter has been guided by her philosophy, "I can achieve anything that I put my mind to through Christ who strengthens me. This philosophy has charted my pathway and propelled me to where I am today," she said with satisfaction.