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Teachers Celebrated
posted (May 11, 2017)
It's Education month and it is being celebrated under the theme Collaborating in Education for the Development of our Nation. There will be a number of activities throughout the month highlighting the different projects and advancements in the education system. And of course, you can't celebrate education month without honoring those key figures in the sector: Teachers. The Outstanding Teachers and School Leaders Awards ceremony was held this morning at the Bliss Center. Courtney Weatherburne was at the ceremony and here is her report.

Dr. Rosaline Bradley, Chairperson, Belize Board of Teacher Education
"Teaching can't be effective without understanding who we are as teachers, and our strengths and limitations and why we teach."

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
And these teachers understand who they are and their role as educators. For that, they were recognized today at the Outstanding Teachers and School Leaders of the Year Awards Ceremony. 24 teachers from across the country were nominated for 8 categories.

In the Pre-Primary category teacher Claudia Smith from the Yo Creek Community Pre-School in Orange Walk took the award for her critical involvement in Early Childhood Development projects.

Courtney Weatherburne
"How many years have you been teaching?"

Claudia Smith, Preschool Teacher
"For the past 25 years."

Courtney Weatherburne
"What was your drive, why did you get into the teaching profession?"

Claudia Smith, Preschool Teacher
"Well, probably what inspired me was my mom, my mom was an ex teacher but she didn't continue her career because of us so from the very beginning I loved to work with children so that is one of the goals that drive me to be a teacher."

That love is also what inspired 28 year old Syannie Cawich. She won the award for the Primary School category. Her dedication and creativity in the classroom is what set her apart:

Syannie Cawich, San Francisco R.C School, Orange Walk
"My kids are the ones that keep me motivated every single day, going to school, looking at them, their faces, their feelings, their emotions, their behaviors, I can say everything is what keeps me in my classroom."

Keisha Gentle from Stella Maris School won the award for the Special Education category. She was recognized for her hard work and her commitment to helping kids with special needs thrive.

Keisha Gentle, Stella Maris
"I teach reading to them uhm different time they would come in groups ranging from 1 to 9 and not only one ability in that group but different abilities from deaf, from hearing impaired to autistic kids and students who are intellectually challenged as well as slow learners."

Teachers from the secondary, tertiary and technical vocational categories were awarded too. While all these teachers come from different backgrounds, with their own set of unique skills and talents, they all have one thing in common: they greatly impact the lives of children.

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"Ask the average person about a person who has made a difference in their life, and in many instances as you heard me recount just now you will hear that it was a teacher, you may hear of the emotional connection, the influence, the encouragement, the patience and even material support of a teacher or a school's principal, someone once commented that a teacher effects eternity because one can never tell where a teachers influence will stop."

For the secondary level category, San Pedro High school teacher Paul Kelly won the award. Erlin Puc from the Cayo Center for Employment training won the award for the Technical Vocational category. Leonard Mortis from the University of Belize garnered the award for the tertiary level category. Dana Staine from Stella Maris School got the school leader award for the pre-primary and primary category and Omar Longsworth from Independence High School got the school leader award for the secondary and post-secondary category. The celebration of teachers continues tomorrow with Teachers Day. From all of us here at Channel 7, we wish all teachers a happy and enjoyable teachers day.

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