Retired Black River Primary educators honoured
BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth
Former principal of the Black River Primary and Infant School, Conrad Romans – who gave 38 years of service to various educational institutions in St Elizabeth – was among five retired teachers honoured recently at a special ceremony held at the institution.
The others – Jennese Idover-Walters, for 40 years as an educator; Myrna Barrett, who served for 36 years; Veta Medora-Daley, who dedicated 27 years of service; and Yvonne Cawley, for 25 years – as well as Romans, who all served at the school were lauded for their outstanding contributions to the education system and the wider community.
“The acknowledgment today is well earned. You have been role models in the classroom and in the entire community. The family life that you have lived has had a positive bearing on others and I wish for you a meaningful retirement,” Mayor of Black River, Jeremy Palmer told the retired educators.
Romans, who replied on behalf of the honourees, expressed satisfaction in the contribution they had made to the education system.
“We were part of a very distinguished team, a team that settled for nothing but the best. We exercised a zero-tolerance approach to mediocrity, we had a mission to achieve, and the results are still here to be seen,” Romans said.
He added that through special intervention initiatives that he and others instituted, the school has been performing well.
He made special mention of a perimeter fence that was erected during his tenure and the groundwork that was laid for a computer laboratory at the institution.
“We gave service without counting the cost. Our mission was based on a culture of performance, and all those within the purview of this institution, whether they be board, academic or ancillary staff, students and members of the wider community must subscribe to this culture. Those who succeed us, yours is the task to continue to build on this rich heritage,” he emphasised.
