Ten educators recognised for outstanding work

Ten local educators were officially inducted into the RF National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards (RFNDTA) Hall of Fame during a virtual awards ceremony held on Wednesday. RF Merchant Bank & Trust (RF) launched the event in 2010 with the goal of rewarding outstanding teaching professionals while inspiring future educators. To date, the program has awarded over $200,000 in prizes to local teachers.

Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Technology and Vocational Training, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw offered congratulatory remarks and expressed her gratitude to RF for hosting the program.

Noting a shift in public sentiment towards teachers, Dr. Bradshaw said: “One of my desires is that we change that seemingly developing trend of disrespect towards our teachers. Let us respect them for their hard work. Let us respect them for their ability to be nimble in the face of COVID. Let us respect them for their ability to persevere in a difficult classroom.

Let us respect our teachers for their ability to make our students learn something so that they can achieve their full potential, holding their heads high because they are imbued with values that make them proud Barbadian citizens.”

In her opening remarks, RF President and CEO, Jillian Nunes, encouraged the winners to use the skills and knowledge gained during their careers to teach and inspire future educators.

“We need more teachers like you who represent all that the RF National Distinguished Teachers Awards stands for. Teachers who inspire enthusiastic learners and help to foster academic excellence and high levels of achievement in their students, who positively contribute to the community in and outside of the classroom, who model personal responsibility, commitment and resilience and who are willing to pivot, to be flexible and do whatever it takes to create the best possible outcomes for their students,” Nunes said.

The winners were nominated by parents, students and other community members and shortlisted by the Blue Ribbon Judging Panel comprised of retired educators. Each received a commemorative trophy and $2,000. They are:

• Tanya Browne, Thelma Berry Nursery

• Tiffany Scantlebury, Eden Lodge Nursery

• Pauline Hinds, Roland Edwards Primary School

• Stephan Walker, Charles F. Broome Memorial

• Suzette Blair, Wesley Hall Junior School

• Fay Williams, Government Industrial School

• Andrea Baptiste, Ellerslie and Grazettes

• Joy-Ann Smith-O’Connor, St. George Secondary School

• Gillian Cadogan, Eagle Hall Primary School

• Philippa Brereton-Selby, Daryll Jordan Secondary School

Also announced during the ceremony was the school with the most nominations and the recipient of a $2,000 prize towards a school development project – St. Leonard’s Boys’ School. For more information on RFNDTA, visit www.rfgroup.com. (PR)