I have come of age

If the teaching and administrative staff at the Wolmer’s High School for Girls could have it their way, the school’s principal, Pamella Harrison, would get a life-long extension to lead the school.

“She’s a person of vision, very intelligent and wanting only the best for the school,” Hyacinth Williams, teacher at the school for 30 years told All Woman.

“She’s very innovative, creative and an excellent financial manager who certainly knows how to make use of whatever resources she has,” Williams added.

Williams, like her fellow staff members at the school, wished she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to the woman who has contributed to the 274-year-old institution’s success.

“It’s really a pleasure working with her because she is so energetic and a lady to the core who strives for excellence,” vice-principal Coleen Montague said.

Montague has been working at the school for 11 years, serving the past six in the capacity of vice-principal.

But amidst all the emotions, Harrison is busy making preparations for her exit from the school she has served for 19 years.

September 1 will mark the beginning of an eight-month long vacation leave, which will lead her into official retirement on May 1, 2004 — a journey she much anticipates.

But before that, Harrison will be recognised by her staff and students at a special Teachers’ Day function this Wednesday (May 7). Education minister, Maxine-Henry Wilson is also expected to thank the principal.

“I’ve come of age,” she told All Woman last Friday. “The time has come for me to make way for someone else.”

For Harrison, come next year this time she will not be busy planning schedules and activities to guarantee the smooth and efficient running of the school the following day.

Maybe she will be helping her church-scheduling activities; or getting some pampering in a spa somewhere or at home just relaxing with her two grandchildren.

These are the some of the ideas she is expected to explore as a retiree.

“I need some rest, and also want to ‘put my house in order… my time will be well spent,” she added.

But the 19 years spent at Wolmer’s Girls is just a fraction of time Harrison spent nurturing Jamaica’s future — its children. Prior to that, she spent 18 years at the St Hildas High School in Browns Town.

Her life as a civil servant, however, spans 41 years counting the nearly three years she spent at the Forensic Lab. She had studied medical technology.

“I’ve served the government for all of 41 years and I enjoyed every moment of it,” she said.

But her call to the profession was not an “established” one. In fact it was marriage and the birth of her two children — a boy and a girl — that brought her into the profession.

“I was newly wed when my husband got a job offer in Manchester so I gave up my job at the forensic lab to join him there,” she explained. “One year later he was transferred to St Ann and I followed him there too and began teaching at St Hilda’s.”

“To me, marriages are for ‘keep’ and I know in that, one person has to take the lower seat and that ended up to be me,” she added.

At St Hilda’s where she initially taught chemistry, she worked herself to the level of vice-principal and then principal. And, it was this moving around that landed her a job at Wolmer’s Girls.

Her first priority then was to uphold the school’s traditions, preserve what was already there and to make new additions.

“I did not want to change anything,” she said.

Today, there’s much evidence at the school for Harrison to call herself a winner.

Among her successes is the construction of a $26-million multi-purpose building, an AV-room, three fully-equipped computer labs and a resource centre, an olympic-size swimming pool and the upgrading and asphalting of tennis courts.

“It’s a beautiful campus,” she boasted, “We have retained its history by keeping the original buildings, which has undergone roof changes and we also have a lovely canteen.”

According to her, all activities are carried out with the school’s motto in mind — “Whatever you do, do it well to the best of your ability.”

“I’ve tried to live up to that, and I have much appreciation for the past and present staff, the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), as well as other groups and individuals who played a part in achieving our goals.”

But her best moment yet was to come with her students CXC results in 1999.

“In that school year we had devised an academic programme and improve the students passes,” she said. “In that year we moved from 70 per cent passes to 90.1 per cent.”

These are the achievements that make exit much easier.

“I have no regrets, I am satisfied that I was able to move the school forward,” she said, describing her successor as “one lucky individual”.

She however, had some words of wisdom for that successor — little things she said that helped her to uphold the institutions’ standards.

“Treat all the girls like your daughters and constantly remind them of their purpose here,” she advised.

Her hopes for Wolmers Girls is for the school to continue “moving forward”.

“Never let it slip away, try to improve on what is already here… just stay on the road to excellence,” she noted.

In her years as teacher/principal at the school though, Harrison has noted some changes mainly in the students’ behaviour. And, while she has not experienced widespread disciplinary problems at the school, she still has some recommendations.

“You have to gear yourself to deal with this generation which I find a little more talkative, fearless and open,” she noted.

“It all begins with the parents,” she says, “Discipline must begin at home so the parents need to set an example.”

Her leadership at Wolmer’s Girls is one that will linger one even years after her departure.

Said vice-principal Montague: “She is a role model for everyone that she works with so you cannot help but do well.”

Meanwhile, new teacher on the block, Magnolia Goldson, admires Harrison for her frankness, yet her attachment to the students and teachers.

“She stands her ground basically where discipline is concerned and at the same time love the girls,” Goldson told All Woman. “She guides them, she protects them and she ensures that education is a top priority here and guides her teachers, yet allow us to play our roles as teachers and counsel where ever it is necessary.”

For president of the PTA, D McGann-Williams, Harrison is “a brand of leadership that is hard to replicate.”

“I’ve never seen her second, she put out all effort to get things done, she’s a real educator,” she said.

Williams’ hope, however, is for Harrison to still use her talents to the benefits of students and hence, Jamaica.

“I would not like her to go and sit on the wealth of talent she has, I would hope that she consider becoming a consultant in that field,” she said.