Three teachers return to Cayman ready to inspire

Wayedene Kidd (K) and Anola Smith

Friday, November 21, 2003

Three young Caymanian teachers, Anola Smith, Wayedene Kidd and Tunisia Barnes, have recently returned to work in the education system after receiving their Master's Degree in Education.

Ms Smith and Ms Kidd focused their studies on reading for their degree programme while Ms Barnes focused on management and human resources.

Ms Smith is the George Hicks High School reading resource teacher. She has always wanted to be a teacher, "I love working with children and the great satisfaction that I get from teaching is when I see the little light bulbs in their heads go off. I also enjoy watching the children pass on what they have learned to others."

Ms Smith received a teaching diploma from Mico Teachers' College in Kingston, Jamaica, a Bachelor's Degree in Education with honours in English from Warwick University in England and a Master's Degree in education from Brock University in Canada.

Ms Kidd is now the special education teacher at Red Bay Primary School. She became interested in teaching after meeting a severely deformed boy, while attending school in Jamaica.

She received a Diploma in Special Education from Mica Teachers' College in Jamaica, a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from Salisbury State University in Maryland and a Master's Degree in different exceptionalities grades K-12 with a focus on reading and mathematics from Florida International University.

"I wanted to give something back to the community and I hope that the education and experiences that I have gained will help benefit Cayman's children," Ms Kidd explained about her return to Cayman.

Ms Barnes is the new senior teacher at North Side Primary. She decided to become a teacher to, "improve the quality of people's lives through education."

She has a Bachelor's Degree from Barry University along with a double major in early childhood and elementary education.

"I am extremely grateful to the Education department and Education Council for assisting me with scholarships for my studies and I encourage all young Caymanians to apply for scholarships to enhance their education," she said.

She added: "Teaching is not an easy job, but knowing that you are able to make a difference in a child's life definitely makes it worth the effort."

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