Continuing in community service after excellent academic and teaching career 
This St Mary-born girl received one of the most important moments of inspiration while at primary school and that took her to among the highest levels of achievement in the United States Education system where she later worked for a quarter century.Back in Jamaica for the last ten years, Dr Dorothy Mathison has not come home for rest. She has lectured in university, given time to service clubs and private philantrophy in St Ann and her native St Mary.She is an educator who contributed immensely to the development of the educational system in the United States, especially in the New York City area. Dr. Dorothy E. Mathison has served many roles as educator, including teacher in the US and Jamaica, district staff developer and lecturer, and was included in the fouth edition of Who’s Who among America’s Teachers in 1996 – a testament to her excellent work in the education system.She was born Dorothy Gordon in Hermon Hill, St. Mary, where she grew up with her grandparents. As a young girl, Dorothy Mathison developed a passion for reading and learning.She attended Wallingford Primary, before moving on to Jeffrey Town All Age School. Dr. Mathison recounted that it was at Jeffrey Town All Age that she was influenced by a teacher, Roy Neil, in the fourth grade to push forward for greatness.
“I was reading a book I had taken from my aunt… It was entitled ‘How to Study.’ Mr. Neil threw it on the desk and said ‘Dorothy you know how to study. You don’t need that book.’ I felt so good and that boosted my confidence,” recounted Dr. Mathison to The Times.
After her inspirational teacher left Jeffrey Town All Age, she went back to Wallingford school where she passed the first, second and third year Jamaica Local Exams. She enrolled at Caledonia Junior College in Kingston. After working as a probationary teacher for about a year, Dorothy Mathison was accepted to Shortwood Teacher’s College, while at the sametime getting accepted to study nursing. “I have never regreted being a teacher. My philosophy is to work with children and adult learners to help them to become fully functional human beings and learners,” she explained.She graduated from Shortwood Teacher’s College in 1965 and began teaching at Penwood Junior Secondary School in Kingston. In the late 1960s, she left for the United States to spend a few months.
Careeer development in the United States
Later she was sponsored to work in the US by a lawyer for whose mother she cared on her first visit. On her return to the United States, she worked at various institutions and pursued her dream of getting higher education, first doing a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education at Mills College and later attended Long Island University, where she attained her Master of Science degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and English.Dr. Mathison also had to overcome challenges such as racism in her pursuit of excellence. She tells of an encounter with a Jewish lecturer, while pursuing her doctoral degree at New York City University. “He came to me and said Dorothy, you have a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, why do you need a doctorate degree? I answered him by saying ‘for the same reason why you have a doctorate degree’. That was the worst thing I could have said.” Dr. Mathison left that university, but she was even more determined to work and continue her studies.
Her achievements in the American Education System
Dr. Mathisonserved more than a quarter century in the American education system, in various roles including substitute teacher, licensed teacher, district staff developer, coordinator for many educational programmes and lecturer at Touro College, Medgar Evers College and Long Island University.
She recounted to The Times her experience as a teacher throughout public schools in Harlem and Brooklyn where reading scores went up and where parents showed a preference for her. “I went to some of the worst schools and they improved.” During this time Dorothy Mathison was continuing her education and attained doctoral degree in Curriculum Development and Implementation in 1977 from Sarasota University. Following that, she did a second Masters in School Administration.Her most memorable assignment was as the Director of Communication Arts, Social Studies and Libraries for 28 schools in one district.Her academic achievements and awards were many including the publication of her doctoral citation in the Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) in 1983, community involvement award in 1977 from the New York State Assembly Legislative Advisory Committee, , and recognized by Hilary Clinton for her outstanding contribution to her campaign for the Democratic Party (for which Mrs Mathison is a member). She is the holder of several licences and certifications from New York City State and City.Following her retirement from the American education system, she returned to Jamaica in November of 2003 but then another phase of her life and work started.After her husband, ClentonMathison passed away on July 1, 2006, there was an urge for Dr. Mathison to continue working while in Jamaica. “I didn’t want to stay home and get depressed so I contacted the Dean of Education of the International University of the Caribbean (IUC).” Dr. Mathison subsequently lectured in many areas at IUC from 2006-2010. She also got involved in voluntary work, first task being a health fair in Wood Park.Dr. Mathison is also an active member of various organizations; a member of the Women’s Federation of the Ocho Rios Baptist Church, member of the returned residents club of St. Mary, St. Ann andTrelawny, member of the Senior Citizens Club of Tower Isle, and former president, secretary, treasurer and current assistant treasurer of the Soroptimist Club of Northern Jamaica. As a member of the Soroptimist Club, she has participated in many of the Club’s projects.
Dr. Dorothy Mathison also is a JP, member of the Lay Magistrate’s Association and is a certified mediator with the Dispute Resolution Foundation in Kingston.Some of her work has been acknowledged with awards for her services in the north coast, including from Soroptimist International of Jamaica and Kiwanis Club of the Garden Parish of St. Ann.On her own initiative in Jamaica, she has helped a number of persons who are facing difficult financial challenges. At the same time she has been a crusader for the education of individuals.A lifelong learner and lifelong achiever, she continues to enjoy being an avid reader, travelling to various places and thanking God for her blessed life. “God has been this gracious unto me and I have promised myself to do whatever I can to help and enrich the lives of the less fortunate in communities and continue to play my part in nation building.”
