Last Updated on July 22, 2019, 1:57 PM AST by Anthony Morris
With the retirement of Jacqueline “Jackie” Douglas as Principal/Headteacher after 42 years in education, she joins a growing list of icons in the field of education for St Paul’s, Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Representative, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas said Monday.
On Saturday night, Dr Douglas had the distinct honour, privilege, pride, pleasure and joy to attend and participate in a wonderful event when scores of guests, elegantly attired in white/white & black, gathered on the moonlit grounds of the Willett’s Great House, St Paul’s.
It was the occasion of the Second Retirement Dinner held in honour of Douglas, who officially retires as Principal/Head Teacher of the Dieppe Bay Primary School. She headed that school for the past 17 years. Her retirement ends 42 years of devotion to the advancement of education in the Federation.
“Jackie” or “Teacher Miss Douglas” as she’s affectionately known by her fellow villagers and friends of St Paul’s, and parents/guardians, students and teachers of St Paul’s, Dieppe Bay and Parsons is a skilled talented passionate and dedicated teacher, educator and administrator who assisted, prepared and trained four generations of our nation’s students to cope with life and its challenges,” said Dr Douglas.
He pointed to remarks by Ministry of Education officials who attended the function that Ms Douglas holds the Federation’s record of being the longest serving principal to date.
“For us in St Paul’s Village she joins a list of iconic career teachers like Jane Thomas, Enrica Douglas-Walters, Margery DeGuire, Adina Connor and Phyllis Carty which will be recorded in the annals of the history from the village of St Paul’s. Under her leadership the Dieppe Bay Primary School has won many, many, competitive academic, literary, spelling, drama and sports awards, but none was more highly acclaimed and appreciated than the smallest primary school in the Federation emerging as Champions of the 2019 Rams sponsored Primary School Track and Field Games, just a few weeks ago at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium,” Dr Douglas said.
He noted that “Jackie” as she is affectionately called, has many more formative years of her life, “enough years to ‘retire’ and start a new career as she said in her usual poetic style, after sailing the oceans and seeing the world.”
“Jackie we all agree that ‘education may be the key to success but retirement is really the key to true happiness.’ We wish you well as you enjoy whatever the Master has planned for you, whether it’s serving in His vineyard or publishing your many pieces of creative writing of poetry and prose for the world to enjoy,” said Dr Douglas.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
