Chantel Henry is a Jamaican cultural exchange teacher living in North Carolina, United States. She migrated in 2019 on the Participate Learning teaching programme. She has been teaching at the elementary level for three years, and completed her master’s degree in curriculum, instruction and assessment with Walden University in 2021.

She was named the 2021- 2022 Teacher of the Year for her school, and also serves as the grade chair for her grade level, and is an active member of her school district’s Math Advisory Curriculum team. She is one of two Jamaican teachers on this committee.

Below she shares her story to motivate other educators and emerging professionals.

Who I am

I am Chantel Henry, the fifth child of my parents, Sylvia (Ms Cherry) and Leroy (Keith) Henry. I was born in the parish of St Mary to a humble but loving, caring and happy family.

I started my education at Scott’s Hall Primary School in St Mary. I always enjoyed school and tried to maximise my full potential. My journey continued at Annotto Bay High school in the parish, where I completed first form. I faced many financial challenges; however, I fought the odds to be successful in my academics because I understood from that time that education was the vehicle that would help me to overcome poverty. I was a top achiever in my class, who exemplified what success means. After my first year at Annotto Bay High, my parents decided to migrate to St Ann.

A new beginning

I started attending Ferncourt High School in second form. Throughout my tenure at this noble institution, I was ill for many days, which affected my attendance and eventually hampered my academic performance. My brother Brian and I started attending this institution at the same time, but he was one year ahead of me and was soaring in his academics. I was extremely proud of him. Many people would use his successes to measure me, which pierced me because I knew I had a different story from him. I felt like I was failing myself and my parents throughout my time at this institution. I would want to go to school many days, but I was just not well enough to take on the challenge. I would often stay home with my mother, who did everything she could to encourage me and improve my health. When it was time for CXCs, my parents could not afford to pay for the subjects, but fortunately, I earned a grant to pay for them. I persevered because success was my destiny. I was successful in six subjects, including math and English language. I was grateful for my achievement because I knew it was sufficient for me to enrol in higher education programmes.

I walk by faith and not by sight

Unfortunately, my parents could not afford to support my academic journey financially beyond high school. However, I knew that I wanted to go higher. After a year I applied to Moneague College to enrol in the teacher education programme; this was a leap of faith because I used the only $500 I had for the application. My application was successful to start studies in September 2011. I had financial constraints but had faith in God that he would provide. He certainly made a way out of no way for me to pay my tuition. My uncle and aunt came to visit us from overseas. I swallowed my pride, shared my dilemma with them, and they supported my dream for year one.

My brother and I were each other’s rocks, attending the same school and having equal struggles. In my second year, I was successful with a student loan and could cover my tuition for the additional three years. However, the financial battle continued, where I had to find money to cover my boarding fees and miscellaneous expenses. Fortunately, I got a part-time job in the college library, where I worked after school and on the weekends while I studied. In addition to working in the library, I would sell phone cards and cup soup in my hall, and I would also assist my father in selling in the market in downtown Kingston during the holidays. I express my sincere gratitude to Moneague College for their accommodation on campus and for being flexible in accepting my boarding fee in instalments.

In 2014, I graduated from Moneague College with a bachelor’s degree in primary education; this was another milestone in my life. I was proud of myself because I knew I had significant challenges, but I persevered to the end!

Light at the end of the tunnel

My teaching career started at Iona Preparatory in Tower Isle, St Mary in 2015. I learnt a lot at this noble institution which has helped me grow personally and professionally. The fundamental skills that I learned and developed allowed me to transition to the high school system.

After three years at Iona Prep, I continued my professional journey to St Mary Technical High School, where I taught grades seven to nine students. I was extremely grateful for this new opportunity because it presented unique challenges that fostered my professional growth.

I am always seeking new challenges that would help me grow professionally and I learned of Participate Learning Program (teacher exchange programme) and thought it would be an excellent way to share my culture while enacting positive change in children’s lives in the United States. I applied to the programme and was successful. After a year at St Mary Technical High school, I migrated to the United States to continue my teaching career. It was not the easiest decision to leave Jamaica to teach in another country, but I knew it would benefit me, my family, my country, and the United States population.

Bloom where you are planted

In 2019 I started teaching at Mary McArthur Elementary in Fayetteville. This is where my career continues to bloom. I teach fourth grade math, reading, science and social studies, and I love it. I firmly believe in education, and I believe that learning never stops. Therefore, I enrolled at Walden University in 2020 to pursue my master’s. I was still a full-time teacher while studying at Walden and it was a challenge to balance learning and a full-time job that was very demanding and time-consuming to facilitate virtual learning during the pandemic, but I believed I could, so I did.

In 2021, I graduated with a 4.0 GPA. I mastered it!

At age 28, I am proud of my accomplishments, but I remain humble and thankful through it all. I could not be functioning in these capacities all by myself. Jesus is the pillar that holds my life, and He deserves all the glory. It’s not how you start; it is how you finish.