Trelawny teachers stand tall

Nadisha Hunter and Marie-Liese George, Gleaner Writers

Glowing smiles and delighted responses marked the reactions of the individuals honoured at the 2010-2011 LASCO Teacher and Principal of the Year awards ceremony, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, yesterday.

Pherone Griffiths, teacher at the Spring Gardens Primary and Infant School, and Pauleen Reid, principal of Holland High, said they were elated to have been given the prestigious awards.

Both teachers are from Trelawny schools.

Griffiths, a grade-six teacher, was overcome with emotion upon realising he was the winner. He attributed his success to his mother's determination for him to succeed.

The top teacher said he is honoured to be chosen for the top position, two weeks after he was given the Governor General Youth Excellency award for Cornwall region.

Meanwhile Reid, who has been involved with education for the past 27 years, used the occasion to underscore the importance of teachers in the society.

"Teaching has to be more than a profession, it has to be a vocation to service. One can't be driven for the need for recognition but out of a desire to serve humanity and recognise that students are the important factor," she said.

Griffiths and Reid each received $100,000, a trophy, LASCO gift packages and an expense-paid trip to the annual conference of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in the United States.

All winners

In his remarks, Lascelles Chin, chairman of LASCO, told the teachers they were all winners and were making an indelible mark on the teaching profession and the lives of thousands of Jamaicans.

"My warmest congratulations to the 12 finalists in both categories. The competition for the top awards was fierce as teachers and principals across Jamaica continue to give their best, inspiring their students, raising education standards and making their schools proud," he said.

Governor General Patrick Allen commended LASCO for its initiative in establishing 'The LASCO Salute to Teachers' and Teacher of the Year award in 1998.

He added that the noteworthy approach to citizen empowerment proves the connection that remains between good corporate citizenship and profitability.

"This model of synergistic partnership between the Ministry of Education and LASCO shows that it is possible for private- and public-sector interests to work together for national development. It shows how exceptionally we, as a people, can excel when we pool our resource, objectives and energies," Allen said.

Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, said the recognition given to teachers represents a vital element of Jamaica's development and economic growth.