NASSAU, The Bahamas – Forty-eight outstanding teachers from public schools in New Providence and the Family are vying for the post of National Teacher of the Year.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced plans for the 2019 Teacher of the Year program during a press briefing Wednesday at the Church of God of Prophecy, East Street. The event was attended by Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Sharon Poitier, Deputy Director; Benjamin Whyte, Co-Chairperson, Teacher of the Year initiative and Anthonique Josey reigning teacher of the year 2017-2019.

Several activities have been planned for the nominees. They include the following:

Wednesday, March 27th – Church Service at Church of God of Prophecy, East Street

Thursday, March 28th – Medal and Certificate Presentation, Government House and an evening  Reception hosted by Bahamas Union of Teachers

Friday, March 29th – A Sail Away to Fresh Creek, Andros

Saturday, March 30th – Banquet and Awards Night (when the Teacher of the Year will be announced)

Marcellus Taylor, Acting Director, described the nominees, who comprise 5 males, as an “exceptional” contingent of educators. He commended them and said their work has demonstrated their excellence as professionals in the education sector.

“As a society on the whole we often take our teachers for granted,” said Mr. Taylor. “We rarely consider how fortunate we are that God has richly endowed each and every one of you teachers with special gifts of being able to take students, sometimes in a very raw state and help them in their personal transformation.”

Mr. Taylor said this year’s theme, ‘The Journey of Excellence Continues: Celebrating Outstanding Educators’ speaks volumes about what the MOE is aiming to achieve with the National Teacher of the Year initiative.

He congratulated the educators and said, “It is by your example that you show that you are dedicated to this profession and that the reward that you get - in addition to a tangible reward- is also one of satisfaction of knowing that you have helped persons in their transformation [to be] the kinds of people that they ought to be.

The objectives of the National Teacher of the Year program are:

To highlight the significant role of teachers in nation building’

To honor and reward teachers for their outstanding contributions in the field of education;

To encourage and motivate teachers to perform at high standards;

To provide teachers with the opportunity to showcase and share their teaching talents;

To introduce outstanding teachers to the wider community;

To enable you to bond with other professional colleagues.

Nominees from 13 districts are participating in this year’s competition. The Family Island districts represented are: Abaco, Freeport, The Berry Islands, Andros, Eleuthera, Inagua and Exuma.

The selection process comprises three levels including a nomination by each school, selection of 3 finalists at the district level, evaluation of finalists by the National Team and the announcement of the winner.

Teachers are required to participate in an interview, submit a portfolio that represents their life, and produce a video with a teaching philosophy, excerpts of lessons and community involvement.