#BTFocus – Top marks . . . Ten receive Royal Fidelity Teachers awards

Ten teachers have gone to the top of the class after copping the 2019 Royal Fidelity National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards.

The awards, established in 2010, are held each year by the Royal Fidelity Merchant Bank & Trust (Barbados) Ltd., in association with the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, to acknowledge the immense contribution teachers make towards Barbados’ development.

The awardees have excelled in every area of the teaching profession, from nursery to tertiary education.

Those in the winners’ row are: Anya Holmes from Eden Lodge Nursery in the Nursery School category; Anderson Butcher of St. Martin’s Mangrove Primary School, Cynara Colucci-Francis from St. Christopher Primary School, Shioma Porte from Ellerton Primary School and Norma Warner of Charles F. Broome Primary School in the Primary School category. From secondary schools, the winners are: Astrid Alleyne from St. Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School and Dave Jackman of Springer Memorial Secondary School.

LaTeisha Leon-Barker of The Lodge School is the lone winner in the Sixth Form category. In the Special Needs category, Shantel Lynch of Erdiston Special School emerged the winner. The winner in the Tertiary School category is Walter Harris of Barbados Community College.

Royal Fidelity’s Vice President and Barbados Country Head, Jillian Nunes, said that in spite of the difficult times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the awardees were very vocal about their passion for teaching.

“During times of uncertainty, it’s these feel-good stories that bring us together as a community. The inception of the Royal Fidelity National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards was based on the understanding that great teachers inspire greatness in students, and accordingly they should receive acknowledgement for their sterling service, especially those efforts which involve going above and beyond to motivate students. Deservedly so, great teachers must be lauded for their role in shaping this nation by educating our future leaders,” she emphasized.

Members of the public, including fellow teachers, school administrators, parents and students were invited to nominate teachers with no less than five years teaching experience across both public and private schools.

The ‘Blue Ribbon Judging Panel’, comprising retired Principal of The St. Michael School and Chief Judge Shelton Perkins; retired Deputy Principal of the Barbados Community College Dr Sylvia Hackett; and former Principal of Lawrence T. Gay Primary School Beverley Parris, chose the ten outstanding teachers who exemplify excellence in education.

Queen’s College received a $500 prize for submitting the most nominations. (BGIS)