The 2019 winners of the Royal Fidelity National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards. From L to R: (top row) Shiome Porte; Walter Harris; Astrid Alleyne; Cynara Colucci-Francis; (middle row) Shantel Lynch; Norma Warner; (bottom row) Anderson Butcher; Anya Holmes; Dave
Jackman & LaTeisha Leon-Barker.
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:
Nursery School: Anya Holmes - Eden Lodge Nursery
Primary School:
Anderson Butcher -
St. Martin’s Mangrove Primary School
Cynara Colucci-Francis - St. Christopher Primary School
Shioma Porte - Ellerton Primary School
Norma Warner - Charles F. Broome Primary School
Secondary School:
Astrid Alleyne - St. Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School
Dave Jackman - Springer Memorial Secondary School
Sixth Form: LaTeisha Leon-Barker - The Lodge School
Special Needs: Shantel Lynch - Erdiston Special School
Tertiary: Walter Harris - 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
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 general 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.