ST ANN, Jamaica — After two days of disruption because of criticism about her leadership style, the principal of Cascade Primary School in St Ann is confident classes will resume on Wednesday.

“The [education] ministry was [at the school on Tuesday] and they have come to an amicable resolution at some points. School will be in normalcy tomorrow, full; they are expected to have school,” principal, Marcia Thomas-Powell, told OBSERVER ONLINE on Tuesday.

On Monday parents locked the gates to the school, preventing staff and students from entering. On Tuesday, classes were offered online after another disturbance at the school gate. Angry parents have described Thomas-Powell as confrontational and abrasive. They have also blamed her for teachers leaving and inadequate upkeep of the school compound.

However, on Tuesday one parent spoke out in defence of the educator who has been with Cascade Primary for more than a decade. She argued that every organisation has challenges and it was unfair to blame Thomas-Powell for teachers’ departure.

“She is a strict principal, yes; and sometimes words may hurt. But you pass and go on. People must remember she uplift the school, she teaches our children; even when they cannot learn she find ways for them to learn,” said the parent who asked not to be identified.

She said Thomas-Powell has been instrumental in putting programmes in place to help students, especially slow learners.

Parents who have issues with the principal, she said, are the ones who do not follow the school’s rules.

The parent wants Thomas-Powell to keep her job.

“She is a principal who help so many people… but they are afraid to accept the rules and the regulations. If the ministry of education don’t understand that this principal is a good principal then I don’t know what principal [is good],” she stressed.

Wednesday will be the first time that students at the institution will have face-to-face classes since the new academic year got underway on Monday.