KINGSTON, Jamaica — When his grade-six teacher, Pansy Genus, needed to step out of the classroom at Dupont Primary School, she knew exactly who she could trust to keep things in order—Dr Rev Austin Wright.

“Students do this, students do that,” Wright recalled, sharing how he would stand before his classmates, write on the chalkboard and take charge until his teacher returned.

What may have seemed like a simple classroom responsibility to his teacher was inspiration for the little boy from Trench Town, in Kingston.

When he got home, Wright was still playing teacher – this time, his students were his mother’s plants.

Decades later, that childhood exercise in leadership has blossomed into a 40-year career in education, including 25 years as principal.

On National Heroes Day, he will be conferred with the Order of Distinction (OD) in the rank of Officer for service in the field of education.

“My first reaction was one of gratitude to the Almighty God and I was also humbled. I feel honoured and blessed to be receiving this award,” he told JIS News in an interview.

Wright was first recognised nationally when he received the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in 2013 for service in education, community development and religion.

He told JIS News that while he was still in secondary school, he hosted a summer school in his community, charging each student five cents.

His father, a pastor at True Witness Apostolic located at Mall Road in Kingston 11, allowed him to use the church building and about 50 students showed up.

In September 1986, he took another step, establishing an early-childhood institution at the church with just 10 students. It was unofficially called Austin’s School.

He had no formal training and so he employed teachers, and his mother, who was a housewife, assisted him with the accounting and operations.

By January 1987, the school had roughly 30 students.

“I had to take out my father’s benches to clear the way in order for the school to function in the church and when it was church time, I had to put everything back,” he said.

He shared that Mormons from overseas visited the school and gifted the students pencils inscribed with the words, “One way. Jesus said, I am the way”, as well as writing books.

Dr Wright never forgot the gesture and in gratitude, he named the school One Way Early Childhood Centre.

In less than two years, the school was recognised by the Ministry of Education, began receiving a subsidy from the Government and more students enrolled.

When Hurricane Gilbert hit in 1988, he recalled that a number of primary schools were damaged.

Parents turned to him asking to facilitate their children, as the church was not impacted.

He accommodated as many students as he could and the following summer, the school got major financial support from Father Richard Albert, which resulted in the construction of a building to accommodate 120 students from grades one to six.

Thereafter, he received a scholarship to attend Passley Gardens Teachers’ College and then enrolled at The Mico University College to complete his diploma in education.

In 1992, he handed over the operations of the school he established to the vice principal and formally entered the school system as a teacher at John Mills All-Age School.

“From that small school, we have established three other schools. It is now called One Way Group of Schools. The enrolment overall is roughly 400 students,” he shared, adding that he also started a church, One Way Apostolic Faith Mission.

Wright taught at Balmagie Primary before serving as acting principal at Mount James All-Age School for two years.

“Then I got the position of principal and I merged two schools. So that was Greenwich Primary School and Greenwich All-Age School in 1998. I changed the uniform, empowered teachers and did a lot of staff development,” he said.

He went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Carolina University and, shortly after, an environmental illness forced him to seek a new job.

“Greenwich was 900 students and roughly about 40 teachers then. But at Constant Spring Primary and Junior High School, I got a school with 1,800 students – double the number,” he said.

His excellent leadership there opened doors of opportunity and he became an assessor for students in their third year of teaching practice and a part-time lecturer at St Joseph’s Teachers’ College.

A believer in lifelong education, he pursued a master’s degree in adult education at Mount Vincent University in Canada.

He holds two doctoral degrees in pastoral counselling and education leadership from Andersonville Theological Seminary and Atlantic International University, respectively.

“I became the chief external assessor for The Mico University College. I served as an early-childhood officer, I served as a primary officer and I served as a community relations education officer,” he told JIS News.

When the Government began phasing out junior high schools, he decided to seek employment in a high school

He secured the position of principal at José Martí Technical High School.

During his 17-year tenure, the school’s rating from the National Education Inspectorate moved from unsatisfactory to satisfactory.

In January 2026, he took on the role of principal at Portmore Community College.

“The tertiary landscape is different. I am learning while going along. I am empowered to do more research and to impact others,” he said.

When asked what has guided him throughout his career in education, he said, “Love for people and love for children. The other is communication, the next one is leading by example, plus honesty and trustworthiness is also a part of it.”

He is encouraging aspiring educators to stay humble, work hard, remain faithful to their purpose and never underestimate the power of one life to make a difference.

—    JIS