Focus RF Merchant Bank & Trust awards Barbadian educators Barbados Today18/02/20230451 views (Back row, left to right) – Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Barbados Resort Tracy Jones; Marketing & Sales Coordinator, CBC Alicia Hintzen; Marketing Manager, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Samantha Suttle; Caisha Greaves – Maria Holder Nursery; Marko Scantlebury – St. George Secondary; Marsha Burke – St. George Primary; Patrice Marshall – Parkinson School; Julia Beckles – Combermere; Chief Education Officer Dr. Archer-Bradshaw; President & CEO, RF Merchant Bank & Trust, Jillian Nunes; and Business Development and Marketing Officer, Co-operators General Insurance Sabrina Howard. Front row (left to right) – Rhonda Robinson-Archer – Debbie’s Little Angels; Tamika Newton – St. Paul Primary; Shannon Haynes – Harrison College; Rinet Briggs – Blackman & Gollop; and Elaine White representing Joanne Davis-Watkins – Eagle Hall Primary. (RF Merchant Bank & Trust) RF Merchant Bank & Trust (RF) recently inducted ten exceptional teachers into the RF National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards (NDTA) Hall of Fame. At a ceremony held at the Hilton, the winners were presented with their awards and recognised for their outstanding service by their peers, the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, sponsors and more. The annual awards included educators from nursery, primary, secondary, and special needs categories. This was also the first year that nominations were open for the top principal in Barbados. Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, brought opening remarks to congratulate the awardees. “We, at the Ministry of Education, use this occasion to reiterate our gratitude to our teachers, who have persevered and excelled during these challenging times,” she noted. The Chief Education Officer added: “I implore you, and your colleagues across the teaching profession, to give your best efforts at all times to ensure that our children develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills and values that are necessary for improving their lives and contributing to rewarding livelihoods.” Winners also received prizes, including a share of $20, 000 and Hilton gift certificates. Awardee videos were compiled to commemorate the occasion and highlight the unique attributes of each educator. Those videos are available on the RF YouTube channel: @rfbanktrust. “While those of us outside of the profession may not fully conceptualise the sacrifice made by tonight’s winners and all the other extraordinary teachers in Barbados, we can all appreciate how valuable their contributions are to the growth and development of our nation,” commented Jillian Nunes, President and CEO of RF Merchant Bank & Trust (Barbados) Ltd. “We applaud you for going above and beyond the call of duty, for stepping outside of your comfort zones, for facing unprecedented challenges head on and doing whatever it takes to ensure positive outcomes for Barbados’ youth. Know that you are all heroes in your own right.” The 2022 RF NDTA programme was supported by several local partners including CBC Radio and Mornin’ Barbados and sponsors CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Hilton Resort, Housing Concepts, Barbados TODAY, Cooperators General Insurance, Consumers Guarantee Insurance, Kooyman, BICO, and Pan American Insurance. Other businesses that helped make the awards possible include A Rich Media Productions, Premiere Events, Blades Trophies and Intelligent Lighting. 2022 RF National Distinguished Teachers Nursey Caisha Greaves of Maria Holder Nursery Rhonda Robinson of Debbie’s Little Angels Special Needs Joanne Davis-Walker of Eagle Hall Primary Primary Marsha Burke of St. George Primary School Rinet Briggs of Blackman & Gollop Primary School Tamika Newton of St. Paul Primary School Secondary Patrice Marshall of Parkinson School Shannon Haynes of Harrison College Marko Scantlebury of St. George Secondary Principal Julia Beckles of the Combermere School School with the most nominations Will’s Primary School For more information on the RF NDTA, visit: www.rfgroup.com/barbados/ndta.