SERVICE IN EDUCATION AND TO CHURCH INTERTWINED
ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann, Oct. 24, 2024
Reverend Dr Everton Walters has been an educator and a pastor almost all his adult life. His faith and service to God and his work as an educator have been intertwined.
Now retired as an educator, this Bishop of the Glad Tidings Church of the First Born is the General Supervisor of several churches across the island.
( Rev. Dr Walters receiving citation and plaque from Councillor Marlene Thompson Kenyon)
He was one of eight people, “unsung heroes”, honoured by the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC) on Heroes Day, October 21, 2024. He was recognized for his service to Community and Religion.
UNSUNG HEROES OF ST ANN HONOURED
Everton Walters was born in Mt. Moriah, St. Ann to parents Pearl Walters and Ellis Walters. He attended school at Mt. Moriah Primary, Alston High then at Edwin Allen High, Clarendon.
Rev Dr Walters tells the North Coast Times, “I have served in education for the better part of my life.”
He entered through the National Youth Service in the 1970s to “test the waters” or to see if he would like teaching.
He was placed at Alston High School and liked teaching enough to enroll at Church Teachers’ College in Manchester. After graduation, he taught math and science and became the math teacher at Alston High. He later became head of the mathematics department.
His next major step up for Everton Walters was his appointment as principal of Aenon Town All Age School, Clarendon.
Later he became principal of his alma mater Edwin Allen High, where he served from 2007 to 2020 when he retired.
Looking back over his education career, Rev Dr Walters says when he entered teaching, children were more involved in education and wanted to learn. “They were intrinsically motivated and so we [teachers] would want to help them.”
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(Rev Dr Walters, left, sitting next to another awardee, Dr Clover Francis at the awards ceremony)
He says it is a different context and behaviour among young people today. “There are several debilitating factors in society that prevent them from aspiring…there are many factors that militate against students wanting to acquire education,” he said.
He said while at Edwin Allen he developed a culture of highlighting and rewarding performance and encouraging learning.
As he built the education strand of his career, Dr Walters earned a Bachelor’s in educational administration, and a Master’s degree in educational administration from the UWI.
He points out that he was involved with the church as a young man before pastoral responsibilities. “I worked simultaneously with education [and] never divorced myself from the Godly fear.”
Rev Dr Walter says some outstanding teachers influenced his thinking and behaviour as a human being and an educator and helped him to learn. At Mt. Moriah Primary School it was Ada Johnson who taught him in Grades 3 and 5. “She loved education and wanted you to learn.”
Then, when he was a student at Edwin Allen High he was strongly influenced by Leonard Wray a language teacher. “He was very, very good and knew his subject. He motivated us to learn. He made learning pleasurable, enjoyable you wanted to learn….”
He said the same was true of Herbert Thompson, a math teacher at Church Teachers’ College, “He loved the subject and knew it well.”
The influence and love for learning propelled Dr Walters to complete a Doctorate in Ministry at Andersonville Seminary, USA. That was after a Bachelor in Ministry and Master in Ministry at Chesapeake Theological Seminary, USA.
His academic qualifications extend beyond degrees in education and religion. He completed a range of certificates and diplomas at universities in the UK and USA.
(Pastor Walters standing, 5th left, with other awardees as another awardee Deana Flinn replies on their behalf)
This Marriage Officer and Justice of the Peace who lives in Mount Moriah, St Ann, served as chairman of the JPs in SW St Ann. He is also President of the JAS St Ann Association of Branch Societies.
He is married to Ruth and their union has produced four children.
Rev. Dr Walters says he is deeply honoured and sincerely grateful to be recognized by the Civic Affairs and Community Relations Committee [of the SAMC] for my contributions to community development specifically in the category of Religion.
He said: “Thank you for this incredible honour. It inspires me to continue striving for the betterment of the community and upholding the values that unite the people.”
This is a sponsored feature, posted by the North Coast Times
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