Joyce Reddie-Brown has persevered, defied the odds and overcome the obstacles of hard life as a young girl in Trelawny to rise to become head of one of the better known schools in the parish of her birth.
Joyce Reddie-Brown has impacted the lives of many individuals throughout her 39 years in the education system. Since 2010 she has been the principal of Duncans All Age School and has continued to achieve significant milestones there.
Born Joyce Miller, the fifth of seven children for her mother Ethlyn Miller who worked on a plantation to support her siblings, Joyce often had few material possessions and remembers that there were some teachers who discriminated against those who were poor.
“In my days, there were teachers who would segregate children; those children who could afford the ribbons, socks and shoes were the ones some teachers would pay attention to. I’ll never forget a particular teacher who sent me out of lessons because I didn’t have the money…. It is for that reason I have never sent a child out of lesson if they never had the money.”
Now as educator, she has been influencing many lives, and mentoring too, simply lifting up people including her students and staff.
During her childhood she was not settled in one home and moved to Kingston twice where she obtained some of her education.
DEFYING THE ODDS
Though facing many trials and changing schools including a stint in Kingston Joyce did her best at First Hill All Age School and thanked the late Teacher Ralph who encouraged her.
By the time she was thirteen she moved back to Kingston to attend Crandell High School where she left at Form Four. By this time Joyce had enough subjects to matriculate her either for college or for work. Due to certain challenges however, she moved back to Trelawny and it was there her dream of becoming a teacher was realized. “I had a cousin, Daphne Reid, who was vice-principal at Clarks Town Primary school so I asked her to ask the principal of the school if he could employ me. I went to the interview and was successful hence was taken on as a pre-trained teacher on May 1, 1976.”
Joyce Reddie-Brown served for one year and two terms and left to attend Moneague Teachers College. Following this, she returned to Clarks Town Primary school to teach. She upgraded herself in certification from HEART/VTDI in clothing and textile hence taught the subject to Grades 7-11 briefly at Westwood High School. In September of 1988, she started teaching at Duncans All Age School, where she rose to become a senior teacher and later vice principal.
Mrs. Reddie-Brown at the same time continued to pursue her academic endeavours and attained a Diploma in teaching and then a Bachelors Degree in Primary Education with an emphasis on Literacy Studies at the University of the West Indies.
Joyce Reddie-Brown is also a holder of a Masters degree in Literacy Studies from Central Connecticut University, in conjunction with Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College, granted in 2004.
She was also the Principal at Liberty Hill All Age School between 2000 and 2010. The population and literacy rates were increased and the school was visited in 2007 by Governor General, Sir Kenneth Hall for being one of the “top performing” schools in the region.
“I started the reading programme and later initiated the Reading Competition (in Duncans All Age). That programme was later adapted in schools across the parish and then became The Trelawny Parish Reading Competition.”
BECOMING PRINCIPAL
In 2010, she applied and became the principal of Duncans All Age School. Since Mrs Reddie-Brown returned to Duncans as principal in 2010, the literacy rates went up.” The school has started a resource room which they intend to complete soon. Tankweld and other donors have been assisting with this initiative. Also Tankweld has stated another building which will be used as an auditorium.
“During my tenure in as principal I have trained senior and aspiring staff members in administrative duties and to date, two are principals, one has acted as a principal and two are now being trained through the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL),” she explained to The Times.
In addition, Joyce Reddie-Brown has served as a member of the Quality Education Circle (QEC), secretary for the Trelawny Central District Association and member of the Women’s’ Caucus. She is also a member of the Ministry of Education Assessment team that has helped in the writing and marking of test items for Grade Four Literacy. She is a marker of the GSAT Communication Task paper.
In 2011, the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) awarded her for 35 years of service.
In addition to mentoring several teachers in professional development, Joyce Reddie-Brown recounted to The Times that she has mentored several persons who have blossomed before her eyes. Joyce Reddie-Brown resides in Barnstaple, Jackson Town in Trelawny. She is an active member of the Jackson Town Seventh Day Baptist Church, where she serves as a deaconess and moderator, among other roles. She has a passion for sewing, cooking and gardening.
Mrs. Reddie-Brown is married and is the proud mother of two daughters. They are Sherrine Reddie, who is now a lawyer and Sasha-Gay Reddie, a graduate of UTECH.
“As a single mother, I always told my children to be satisfied with what they have and I made it my duty to instil in them core Christian values and proper attitudes.”
Joyce Reddie-Brown has persevered and defied the obstacles in her young life, to become a successful individual in her educational roles from teacher to principal.
“Being poor doesn’t mean you cannot achieve your full potential. Set your goals, work towards achieving them and do the best at your ability,” said this Woman of Worth.
