OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Starting a school was not an easy task for Barbara Brown, but she was determined to provide an option for young children in Heywood Hall, St Mary, who had to travel about five miles to the nearest early childhood institution in Port Maria.

In September 1992, Brown opened the doors to Heywood Hall Basic School, the first one in her community.

“There was an old building in the community and I went to the owner and he decided to let me fix it up and use it for classes. So I went to businesses in the area and got sponsorship. I got cement, paint, etc and community members were very excited and encouraging about the venture. They helped me to fix it up,” Brown told the Jamaica Observer.

The 74-year-old was among a group of teachers feted Wednesday at an event hosted by Sandals and other sponsors who came on board to celebrate Teachers’ Day at Pearly Beach in St Ann.

In expressing appreciation for the special treat, Brown spoke a bit about the historic community project she led, and the difference it has made, especially for parents who struggle financially.

“The community members were so happy because their children didn’t have to go far for school. A lot of children benefited from it; even up to this day,” she said.

She is still the principal at the institution, assisted by three teachers and a cook who prepares scrumptious meals.

“The school has grown over the years. We started with seven students and right now we have 28. The structure of the building was also renovated by JSIF (Jamaica Social Investment Fund) in 2006, which we are so grateful for,” Brown said.

“It is a feeling I can’t explain, to know that I have contributed in such a positive way to my community and changed so many students’ lives,” she added.

Her passion for teaching and training children was obvious from early on and has not waned over the years. Prior to starting the basic school, Brown was a senior librarian and would often host summer classes.

“I have five children and that’s where my teaching started. I used to get my chalkboard, put it up in my garage and teach them. Then I got the job at the library and during that time in the holidays they were just running up and down, and so I started gathering them at the library and have classes,” she said.

That happened for 12 years until the library was permanently closed.

“There was no place in the community for the children to gather and learn and it really bothered me. That was also one of the reasons I decided to start the basic school,” she explained.

She is proud of the accomplishments of many whose education began at Heywood Hall Basic School.

“I have past students who are now lawyers and have gone to University in the United States; students who have represented Jamaica in different competitions overseas,” said a beaming Brown.

The most rewarding part of her job is watching her students continue to build on the foundation she and her team have provided.

“I love to see our students that leave the basic school move on to primary school and I’m invited to their graduation and see the progress they have made. Our motto at Heywood Basic is ‘Preparing young minds for learning’,” said Brown.

Each celebration of Teachers’ Day is a reminder of the impact she has made on the lives of so many. According to Brown, the Sandals initiative has made it even more special for her and her team.

“I was here last year and I had a great time, so I know this year will be even better. Thank you so much to Sandals,” she said.

She and the other teachers were treated to an array of food choices, musical entertainment and prizes. Four lucky teachers won weekends for two at a Sandals resort. In addition, the teachers were also able to do medical check-ups and testing by a team of nurses and a doctor from the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA).

Among those feted on Wednesday were two teachers from Lister Mair Gilby School for the Deaf, Karen Bailey and Porsha Byfield.

“It is a nice experience. It is our first time and we love what Sandals has done because sometimes we really need that time out of the classroom. It is an awesome experience and I love the fact that Sandals included persons with disabilities,” said Bailey.

Sandals Regional Public Relations Officer Lyndsay Isaacs told the Observer why the event was of such importance.

“Teachers are unsung heroes and it is our duty to make them feel appreciated. Each year we try to raise the bar. For the past few years we have been hosting Teachers’ Day celebrations. This year we have more sponsors on board and we love that. Our aim is to get teachers from schools all over, especially the rural areas, so they can network,” she said.