Acting principal of the Moneague College, Jacqueline Thames grew up with the full realization that failure was never an option.
This has guided her life throughout the years as she has been shaping the minds of the future society and leading one of the island’s top colleges in her continued quest to mould the nation’s youth.
“I like to see my students excelling in their career choice but more so as a total being who values the other man and craves order and decency. I am concerned about indiscipline among youths as it is destroying their potential and the society. I am aggrieved whenever they pay scant regard to their education, because I know its value; the power it has to transform lives and uplift people,” explained Ms Thames, who is a woman of worth nominee for 2017.
EARLY YEARS
Ms Thames’ was born into a family of ten brothers and sisters in the rural town of Glengoffe in St. Catherine.
The struggles of her early life came to the fore when at the age of five years, things changed for the family, as her father, Linton Thames, who was the rock of the family, died. She explained that her “siblings recounted how good life was when my father was alive” and the only regret in her life is not knowing him the way her other siblings do.
The family was dealt another blow as by the age of sixteen, she lost her mother, Clarice Thames.
“For years I secretly questioned the presence of God and all that I had learnt at church. It was difficult to appreciate a loving, caring God who would take our parents and leave us without support. Looking around, all I saw were my siblings,” Ms Thames said upon reflection.
The void was filled by her eldest sister, Dr Maureen Byfield, who gave direction to the family well beyond the capability of what she said, was “her years and pocketbook.”
“She (Dr Maureen Byfield) made a calculated decision to take the youngest siblings and steer them in the direction of education, because that’s all she had to give. Words are inadequate to describe our gratitude to, and love for our big sister, Dr. Maureen Byfield. The family stands proudly on her shoulders. God’s plan is perfect, all the time. It is important that we trust Him even when darkness is all you can see,” Ms Thames said.
MOVE TO ST ANN
Young Jacqueline lived in Glengoffe, St Catherine until she was ten-years-old when she went to reside with her eldest sister in Blackstonedge, St. Ann. She attended Grateful Primary St. George’s All-Age and later St. Hilda’s Diocesan High.
“My early years were characterised by the typical rural upbringing where adults looked out for you and reprimanded you as they saw appropriate; where children had to honour all adults, no matter how they responded to you,” Ms Thames disclosed.
She added that as children, they also “played freely outside”, several games including dandy shandy, baseball, cricket, stucky, marble, hide and seek and others.
“I grew up in a poor community, but I never thought I was poor, I never felt deprived,” Ms Thames explained.
KEPT GROUNDED
Ms Thames indicated that during these years she was kept “fully grounded by my sister, Maureen Byfield, who made it clear what my mission in high school was to stick within the top ten in my class.”
She competed fiercely in her class work and was particularly good in geography, biology, commerce, Spanish and Language. Ms Thames also participated in several sporting activities, including, netball, volley ball, high jump, and athletics.
EARLY INFLUENCE
Ms Thames names her mother, Clarice and eldest sister, Dr Maureen Byfield as the strongest influences in her life.
“My mother had no educational credentials but she was very bright. She spent time with us, and followed up on homework. She took pride in challenging us to spell and know current affairs. She was always present in our lives, encouraging, protecting, counselling, praying over us. Going to church was a way of life,” she indicated.
Ms Thames said that she grew with the full realization that failure was never an option and she had to “grab” all examinations at the first sitting.
“I could not waste time, because I was existing on the generosity of my sister. I have never failed an examination since high school. It was necessary for me to complete my programmes successfully and in the shortest possible time because someone else needed to be helped and my contribution to this was needed,” she noted.
Today, all her younger siblings are well educated and have led the way in educating the children of the older siblings. The family is stronger than it has ever been, as a result.
Ms Thames’ advice to persons is simple: “To those who believe that the government should solve all their family needs, I say there is strength in the family. Much can be accomplished if you are prepared to plan, sacrifice and be led by God.”
TEACHING CAREER
On leaving high school, Ms Thames made a decision to become a nurse, but she decided after a visit to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) that she did not have the heart and stomach for that job.
“I stayed at home for two years after leaving high school to assist my big sister as she pursued her bachelors degree at the University of the West Indies (UWI). The plan was for me to assist her while she completed her bachelor’s degree and she would provide the support for me while I completed my diploma in teaching. Teaching was never on my mind, but I went into teaching because of the influence of my sister,” Ms Thames added.
She embarked on study at the Moneague College. When the institution closed in 1985, she was transferred to the Mico College (now Mico University College). She achieved her diploma in teaching in 1987.
Her almost 29-year sojourn in education began shortly after that same year at the Tacky High School and continued a year after at the Guys Hill High School.
After serving the school for only one year, she made the decision to pursue the Bachelors in Education from UWI in 1989. “I was going to the UWI in faith as I had minimal savings. The principal (of Guys Hill) intervened and recommended me for study leave, “Ms Thames pointed out.
THE MONEAGUE COLLEGE STORY
The successful and unbroken stint at the Moneague College for Jacqueline Thames began in 1993 as it grew from a teachers college into a multi-disciplinary institution.
“I have served the college in all spheres of its life. I have been true to my specialization in geography, the social sciences and curriculum studies. I have led the Social Sciences Department at the institution, the curriculum committee, established the registry, and served on several work committees all geared at improving efficiency at the institution,” Ms Thames noted.
She has also moved up the ranks at the college and has served in several leadership capacities. These include: a lecturer in 1993 and later senior lecturer in 1996; principal lecturer in 2000; acting vice principal in 2004; vice principal in 2010 and finally as acting principal in 2017.
In her role as acting principal, Ms Thames said in an interview with the North Coast Times that she feels honoured that “someone saw something” in her to recommend her to that position as acting principal.
“All my life I seem to be travelling in the footsteps of my big sister. Having the right mentor in life is important. I have participated in five different administrations at the institution in various capacities. I have tremendous respect for the institution and I am very protective of its brand. It has moulded and nurtured me and I will do anything to improve its prospects,” she said.
Involvement in education sphere
Outside of her very important role at the Moneague College, Jacqueline Thames has served the education sector in Jamaica at various levels. These include, as an examiner for CSEC, and on many committees within the examination bodies of the teachers’ colleges and the community colleges, and with the Ministry of Education in the implementation of several projects in the education system.
Ms Thames is also a member of the Teachers Colleges of Jamaica (TCJ), Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) and has served on other boards within the CCCJ and TCJ. She is also a member of the Joint Committee on Tertiary Education (JCTE).
OUTLOOK ON THE FUTURE
Outside of education, she is a member of the Ocho Rios Baptist Church.
“My job is my ministry to God and I take pride in it. I hold dear to my integrity as without it, one cannot please God,” she noted.
“Each time I sit to reflect on my life, I see God in all his Glory; he does specialize in the impossible. My life’s journey has made me incredibly strong, independent and focused. It has taught me to be charitable, to be humble, honest, and to be disciplined,” she said.
Greatest Achievement
While she is happy to see students excel, for Jacqueline Thames, her greatest achievement in life is to have raised “a smart, focused, disciplined young man in my son, Durant Thames-Francis and to have done it as a single parent.”
“After his birth, I started a deliberate plan to inculcate the skills he needed to achieve in the classroom because I am convinced that classroom success spills over into success in other spheres of life. He is doing biochemistry /computer science at UWI, with an eye on Pharmacy later,” Ms Thames said.
Ms Thames explained that she is guided by the serenity prayer, which is “to accept the things that I cannot change, change the things that I can and to know the difference between the two.”
“I would say to women, go for education, because with education the possibilities are indeed endless, and your influence will go on indefinitely.”
