NEW Fortress Energy, through its foundation, has celebrated teachers as its unsung heroes for 2022, particularly for their contribution to the nation during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the start of the pandemic in March 2020 schools across the island, like those in several other countries, were forced to close their doors and teachers had to adopt the non-traditional approach of connecting with their students using virtual meeting tools such as Zoom and Google Classroom. While ensuring that students were comfortable with this new online normal, many of the teachers were also learning to navigate the various platforms.

Nine teachers from the parishes of Clarendon, St Catherine and St James, where the company operates its LNG facilities, were honoured as the New Fortress Energy Foundation Community Heroes 2022 for their passion, dedication and creativity and commitment to maintaining a high standard of learning in their schools and communities. The teachers each received a trophy and $100,000 in home improvement vouchers to shop at Courts.

Dr Michelle Pinnock, regional director in the Ministry of Education and Youth, who represented Education Minister Fayval Williams at the award ceremony in Montego Bay recently, lauded teachers for their many sacrifices in ensuring that students have access to quality education geared towards maximising their potential and most importantly, making them ‘fit for purpose’.

“To our nine community heroes, our teachers, we express our gratitude for your committed, excellent service to education. As lighthouse awardees, I ask that you return to your institutions as beacons of hope and transformation calling others towards excellence. Today we celebrate and honour you; your enthusiasm, unwavering dedication and passion for this noble profession of teaching and learning are appreciated,” said Dr Pinnock.

Councillor David Brown, Montego Bay West Division, in representing Councillor Leeroy Williams, mayor of Montego Bay, also congratulated the teachers saying, “Jamaica needs the doctor who will answer the call at 3:00 am, Jamaica needs the fireman who will rush into the burning building as well as the police officer and the soldier who will make our nation that much safer. Most importantly, Jamaica needs the teacher who will inspire the minds of all these professions. And it is with honour and humility that we shine a light on our local heroes — our teachers.”

The teachers from St James are Angela McFarlane, Providence Heights Infant; Tonian Campbell, a grade one teacher at Bogue Hill Primary, and Fayonnie Stewart-McFarlane, head of the business department at Anchovy High School. For St Catherine, honoured were Kimone Dawkins, senior teacher at Marlie Mount Primary; Charmaine Downer Thomas, grade two teacher and grade coordinator at Old Harbour Primary; Markodane Wright, religious education and social studies senior teacher at Old Harbour High School. And in Clarendon, the teachers honoured were Patra Johnson, teacher at Salt Savannah Primary & Infant School; Georgia Bissoon, a grade two teacher at Hayes Primary; and Dushaine Loraine, a teacher of visual arts at Bustamante High School.

Verona Carter, vice-president at New Fortress Energy, in congratulating the teachers, said: “Education transforms lives and nations. Education is also at the heart of our mission at New Fortress Energy to help build a sustainable socio-economic future for Jamaica. We are, therefore, delighted to be able to partner with the Ministry of Education and Youth and other key stakeholders to celebrate and honour you our teachers, for your commitment, dedication and passion for building and uplifting our nation. Congratulations to each and you; continue to be a beacon for your students and your country.”

In shortlisting the teachers for the awards, New Fortress Energy Foundation partnered with the Ministry of Education and Youth to select the teachers based on their performance appraisals and their creativity in connecting with their students. These teachers, who all scored highest in their schools, used various methods, including community drive-throughs, making videos, using Jamboard, games, songs, WhatsApp messages, virtual trips and tours to supplement Zoom and Google Classroom to connect with and engage students while schools were online. Some of these teachers also went above and beyond to visit students in their communities who did not have access to the internet so they would not be left behind.

Fayonnie Stewart-McFarlane, head of the business department at Anchovy High School, thanked New Fortress Energy Foundation on behalf of the teachers. “We are humbled at the knowledge that a company has taken the initiative to award us for the hard work that we have selflessly displayed, and for that, we are grateful and say a heartfelt thanks to New Fortress Energy Foundation. I am encouraged to continue to give my best so that I can continue to impact the lives of the students that I teach in the future, and I know that this is the commitment of all the other teachers here this afternoon. Thanks as well to the Ministry of Education and Youth for this partnership that would have allowed us to be recognised in such an unexpected and amazing way today.”