CHRISTEL House Jamaica, the non-profit, tuition-free school that educates students from some of the toughest communities in St Catherine, has announced Taneshia Stoney Dryden as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Dryden brings over 14 years of significant leadership experience, most recently serving as the CEO of United Way of Jamaica.

“I see myself in every child at Christel House,” Dryden shared.

This leadership appointment is particularly impactful, the school said, as Christel House Jamaica’s first cohort of students prepares to matriculate to high school.

Opened in 2020, Christel House Jamaica is the newest within Christel House International’s global network of schools.

David Harris, CEO of Christel House International, said Dryden’s leadership aligns perfectly with its mission to empower students from underserved communities to achieve upward economic mobility, become responsible citizens, and realise their full human potential.

Located in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, the school is transforming the lives of children experiencing poverty through a holistic approach. By adding transportation, breakfast and lunch, books and supplies, uniforms and more, Christel House Jamaica provides students with the tools to move seamlessly from the classroom to life.

The school serves more than 400 students from kindergarten through grade six within an eight-mile radius of the school, with the first grade seven class slated to start in August 2025. It will grow organically, enrolling 60 kindergarten students each year until full capacity of 840 students (through grade 13) is achieved in 2031.