Quiet Giant, Doing Small Things with a Big Ripple Effect!
This is the second in a series by Javelle Stewart, identifying and featuring people from the North Coast doing well outside of and Beyond Tourism. –Editor
BROWN’S TOWN, ST ANN; Oct 14, 2026
Some journeys are shaped not by one dramatic moment, but by small decisions, disappointments and opportunities. The journey of Diana Campbell, recently promoted to Principal of Muirhouse Primary and Infant School, is one such.
Diana grew up in Lower Buxton, near Brown’s Town, St Ann, one of six children in a humble, loving family. Her parents raised four girls and two boys in a home where family, school and church were central, giving her a strong foundation.
As a child, Diana believed she was rich. Her wealth was not measured in possessions, but in the love and support surrounding her—a belief that remains central to her life.
She attended Brown’s Town Primary School, completing the Common Entrance examination in
1994 before moving to St Hilda’s Diocesan High School. Though her parents preferred a business-oriented path, Diana chose the arts. Her passion for fashion, clothing and textiles was encouraged by her Clothing teacher, Sheridene Drummond-Hyde.
After finishing high school at sixteen, Diana spent a period exploring modelling and pageantry, winning titles including Miss Brown’s Town and Miss Brown’s Town ComC.
(Diana while a student at St Hilda’s)
Modelling did not offer the stability she needed. She returned to Browns Town Comm C part-time to get a passing grade in Maths.
Through the National Youth Service, she joined the Education Corps at Orange Hill Basic School as a pre-trained teacher from 2000 to 2001. Working with children helped her discover her interest in education.
Accepted by several tertiary institutions, Diana chose the University of Technology, Jamaica, to study for a Bachelor of Education in Family and Consumer Management, majoring in Textiles, Clothing and Fashion, with a minor in Food and Nutrition and Family Resource Management. She earned the Principal’s Award, was named Most Outstanding Future Teacher of Clothing and Textiles, received the technical high school Principal’s Award, joined the African Cultural and Debate clubs, and became valedictorian.
(Rewards for hard work and persistence have come along the way).
After graduation, a mentor encouraged her to teach at Ferncourt High School, St Ann. What she expected to be five years became a twenty-year career.
Education expanded her skills in assessment, CXC marking, leadership and mentorship. She became Head of the Human Ecology Department and led photography, journalism, social graces and etiquette initiatives that helped students build confidence and prepare for the future.
(Many years back, as the styles show, when she looked to modeling)
The year Diana graduated, her father died five months after being diagnosed with cancer. She remembers him as the family’s backbone, a loving father who made special occasions memorable.
One memory remains dear: “Daddy came from St Ann to Kingston with a big teddy bear on my first Valentine’s away from home.” It showed his determination to make her feel loved, even at a distance.
Her father’s influence continues to shape her, including her commitment to healthy living. She later lost her brother, Robert, to cancer, but chose to carry her father’s love and lessons forward.
Diana is mother to Davoy, 16, who is pursuing an associate degree in General Engineering, and Khalil, 11, who attends Munro College. She has also embraced her adopted daughter, Antonique.
She credits her partner, family, friends and community for their support. Childhood friends Shanique and Nadine have remained close since Grade Three.
“I never felt alone,” she reflects.
PERSISTENCE PAYS
Persistence helped lead her to a role she had never imagined: principal. Diana recalls that becoming a principal had been prophesied during her first year of Master’s studies.
At Muirhouse Primary and Infant School, Diana leads as a servant leader, believing true leadership is about service. She sees the school in a period of transition and rebranding, where small changes can bring meaningful results.
She wants children to feel loved, parents to be supportive, and investment in education to benefit the wider community.
Her service extends beyond school. Diana has been president of the St Ann Chapter of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and a director of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. She has also supported community and school initiatives, including work connected to Jamaica AIDS Support.
For Diana, success is meaningful impact, not simply a prestigious title.
Her advice to young people is grounded in experience: opportunities will not always come looking for you.
“You have to go looking for opportunities.”
UNEXPECTED PLACES
She believes opportunities can appear in unexpected places.
Rejection is not the end; she urges young people to bounce back and “get it done.”
From Lower Boxton to fashion enthusiast, model, student, teacher, mentor, community leader and
principal, Diana has continued to grow. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and management.
And she is not finished.
Her ambition is to serve education at the highest level within the Ministry. Above titles, she hopes to be remembered for small actions that create opportunities and success for others.
Diana’s story reminds us to look beyond tourism. The North Coast is shaped not only by hotels and attractions, but also by teachers, community leaders and ordinary people whose small acts create extraordinary ripple effects.
From Lower Buxton to Muirhouse Primary and Infant School, Diana’s journey reflects the talent, resilience and determination within our communities. Her story urges us to recognize those quietly helping to build the Jamaica we hope to see.
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