Educators celebrate 90 years transforming young lives

For nearly a century combined, Ometa Hinds and Bondette Daniel didn’t just teach lessons—they inspired generations. On Friday, the Western Light Church of the Nazarene overflowed with gratitude and admiration as colleagues, students, and loved ones gathered to honour two women whose devotion to education shaped not only classrooms, but the very fabric of their community.

There were tears, there was laughter, but above all, there was love.

In 1977, two young women walked into separate classrooms for the first time—one at Garrison Senior School, the other at Deacons Primary. They did not yet know one another, but their lives were already intertwined by a singular purpose: to serve.

Hinds would go on to teach at Deacons Senior, Charles F. Broome, and St Joseph Primary, before leading several schools as headteacher. With academic qualifications ranging from a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology to a master’s in curriculum studies from Mount Saint Vincent University, she built a career defined by vision, rigour, and compassion. Her strength lay not only in her intellect, but in her enduring faith.

Daniel’s path was equally remarkable. She taught from Boscobel Girls’ School in the north to Eden Lodge Primary in the west, delivering instruction for 34 years at the latter. Her commanding voice—unmistakable across a schoolyard—her tireless dedication, and her deep-seated patience became the hallmarks of a teacher in full flight.

Both retirees culminated their years of service at West Terrace Primary, with Hinds concluding her post as headteacher in 2023, and Daniel, a senior teacher, saying goodbye to the classroom last year.

Education Officer Hyacinth Griffith painted a vivid picture of Daniel’s impact:
“To see Ms Daniel in her classroom with that commanding voice and stance was to view an educator in full flight… She was industrious, possessed excellent knowledge of the syllabus, and spent hours planning—especially for students who needed individual attention.”

Griffith also offered a stirring reflection on Hinds’ career, describing her as “an undercover investigator”, never afraid to ask hard questions or seek answers in the pursuit of what was best for her school.
“Complaints from parents or staff were guided by her counselling skills, prayer, and the belief that a win-win situation could always be found. She inspired, catapulted the school to excellence, and dared to challenge staff to operate at full capacity.”

West Terrace headteacher Charmaine Jones said:
“Today is truly a special occasion… We give thanks for Mrs Hinds, a leader whose dedication, wisdom, and heart have shaped not just the systems of education, but the lives and values of both students and staff. You leave behind not just the legacy of leadership—but of love and learning.”

She then turned her praise to Daniel:
“You have been a pillar of strength, always going above and beyond to ensure students felt seen, heard, and valued… Your retirement is not the end of your influence—it is the continuation of your legacy.”

Following the event, both retired teachers were overwhelmed with emotion.

“I feel thankful and overjoyed… Every day I took it as it came, but now at the end I look back and I’m so pleased because I know that God was in the midst of it all,” Hinds said.

Meanwhile, Daniel said:
“I feel humble. I really didn’t expect this… I just did the teaching from the bottom of my heart. My primary concern was always the children. It will still always be the children. That is why I came into it—not as a job, but as a calling, impacting their lives.”

She added: “It really has been a pleasure working and knowing that you impacted lives… Because when you think about Jesus, he impacted lives, and we were all on the same mission. The mission of Jesus—to impact as many lives as we can. That was our mission.”

(SZB)