Carmen Brown has devoted an impressive 21 years to the service of her community and country through education. Her name has become synonymous with Beecher Town Primary School, which she has served for two decades in shaping and molding the minds of the nation’s children to become productive citizens.
Her service has earned her the distinction of being awarded on two occasions the excellent teacher’s award by the Quality Education Circle (QEC) in 2012 and 2014. She has served the school in various capacities and is now a senior teacher with responsibility for grade six.
“It’s a plus to say that has been the school (Beecher Town Primary School) I’ve been to as a child, so I feel privileged to give back my service to the community,” Ms Brown explained in an interview with the North Coast Times.
She was born and raised in Hinds Town and lived with her mother, Desrine Grant, but she was surrounded by several family members.
“I didn’t have any struggles. My mom did the best she could to give me the best education ever,” Ms Brown stressed.
It was at that early age that her passion for teaching started and she acted it out as a teacher whilst playing with her cousins and neighbours.
In her year, Ms Brown was the only child at Beecher Town All Age (now Primary School) to pass her Common Entrance Exams and be placed at a high school. She later moved on to St Hilda’s High School. With her eyes set clearly on becoming an educator, she entered the doors of Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College in 1993 and three years later, graduated with a diploma in Primary Education with honors.
In September of 1996, Ms Brown gained employment at the Beecher Town Primary School (then All Age School), then a multi-grade school, where one teacher often had two classes together. “It was difficult, but being energetic and coming out of teacher’s college, I managed to press on,” Ms Brown reflected.
PRINCIPAL MENTOR
Throughout the years, she has taught all the grades from grades one to six. She has been the grade six teacher for the past two years.
Being one of two senior teachers at the school, she works closely with the principal Lynell Brown-Jones, who she credits as her mentor.
Throughout the years, Ms Brown has been active in the school life. She is the coordinator for grades four to six and she is also in charge of the school’s nutrition and canteen.
In addition, she also holds the responsibilities of graduation coordinator, the teacher in charge of the PATH/Canteen account, teacher in charge of the reading club, school based assessment coordinator and sports mistress. She also is a member of the school board and the parent-teacher association (PTA) body.
Ms Brown admitted that it has been difficult, but her passion for educating the young minds and taking care of their well-being has kept her going.
“I think it is the passion that I have for it (teaching) and also the wonderful staff members that I have worked with, especially my principal, Mrs Jones… She is my mentor, a confidant, a friend and a sister,” Ms Brown said.
Ms Brown reflected that she has always instilled in her students, who she termed as “her children” the philosophy “Only your best is good enough.”
It is no surprise that one of the highlights of her teaching career has been seeing several students, who she has assisted with learning challenges, occupying several positions at various institutions, such as the bank and the hospital.
God has also been at the helm of her life as she is affiliated with the Good Tiding Gospel Chapel in her community of Hinds Town.
Ms Brown credited several persons for supporting her and being positive influences throughout the years. Among these persons are: her spouse, Gregory Lawrence; her son, Ra-Shaun Tracey; her mother, Desrine Grant; past principal, Winston White; aunts Alice Thomas and Suzette Francis; dear friends, Marsha Gordon and Janiel Peart; current principal, Lynell Brown-Jones and the members of staff of the Beecher Town Primary School and Michelle Mathis, who has been a motivator.
With 21 years of teaching under her belt, Carmen Brown had this advice message to pass on to teachers entering the education system.
“The system is not what it was in the past and this generation is different. So you have to go with a different approach and know how to deal with those children and how to cater to their needs and be professional as possible,” Ms Brown advised.
