NEW principal of Shortwood Teacher’s College Nadine Molloy is well aware that she faces a mammoth task in leading one of the island’s top teacher training institutions in this rapidly changing world.

But the veteran educator says after 32 years in the profession she is ready for the job.

“We are at a pivotal time in this business called education, where we have to do things differently,” Molloy told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, hours after the board of governors of the college announced her appointment to the post which she has acted in since January 2024.

“We have to look at how we train our teachers in a different way. We have to take a different approach to early childhood education. We have to take a different approach to special education, and we have to be very intentional in how we integrate technology into the teaching and learning process.

“We have to think about the soft skills and other skills that our future teachers will need to take into the classrooms. That’s quite a job, but I am up to the task,” declared Molloy.

“I absolutely love my students and I absolutely love what I do. The reception at Shortwood has been great and I look forward to collaborating with everyone — the staff, the students and the alumni — to ensure that Shortwood remains the college of choice. I am honoured and I look forward to the journey,” added Molloy.

On Tuesday, Grantley Stephenson, chairman of the board of governors at Shortwood Teacher’s College, announced to staff at the institution that Molloy had been appointed principal effective October 1, 2024.

According to Stephenson, the Ministry of Education confirmed her appointment last week after her service as interim principal, following her secondment from Ardenne High School, where she was principal for 12 years.

“This is a well-deserved and fitting appointment, given her sterling performance as interim principal, her strong spirit of excellence, and for her dedicated service to the field, spanning many years,” said Stephenson.

“We have no doubt that she will bring her vast knowledge, experience and skills to her new role as principal. We look forward to her continued drive to reposition the college by accelerating the integration of digital innovations into teaching and learning, and executing other ground-breaking strategies that will advance the college’s transformation into a globally competitive academic institution,” added Stephenson.

In response Molloy told the Observer, “I am very grateful to the board that selected me and the kind of support…that I have received from them over the last year and three months.”

Molloy holds a Masters in Library and Information Studies; a Masters of Arts in Education Administration; a bachelor of arts with honours in language, literature and sociology; a diploma in teaching English; and a certificate in school management and leadership.

She has lectured at The University of the West Indies, Brown’s Town Community College, Church Teachers’ College, and Bishop Gibson High School.

In addition to Ardenne, she served as principal of the Portland-based Buff Bay High School.

Molloy was the 2009 Principal of the Year recipient and served as president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association from 2010 to 2011.

She now serves on Jamaica’s Education Transformation Oversight Committee and is an executive member of Education International, the global umbrella organisation of educators.

Shortwood Teachers’ College, founded in 1885, is now in its 140th year and was established as an all-female institution, known then as Jamaica Women’s College, with 18 students.

It became co-educational in 2001, with the admission of three male students. Now the college has 725 students registered and a staff compliment of 170.