HILLCOVE HEAD HAILED AS DEDICATED EDUCATOR
Prominent Educator and head of the Hillcove High Achievers Prep School, Adita Laurel Sherwood has been awarded the Governor General’s Achievement Award 2024.
(Receiving the citation and award from Governor General Patrick Allen)
She is one of three people from St Ann to be awarded in the latest round of such honour bestowed by the office of the GG.
Three people from each parish were honoured with the Governor General’s award, at the ceremony in Kingston in July.
The citation to Mrs Sherwood hailed her as a “dedicated educator and visionary leader…[who] has surmounted significant personal and professional challenges throughout her illustrious 52-yar career.”
(Being pinned by Lady Allen)
The citation noted she had grown up in poverty yet achieved a graduate degree in education and “excelled in all facets of her life.”
Mrs Sherwood holds a Master of Arts in Education and an Advanced Certificate in Management.
Pointing to the founding of Hillcove in 2006, following her career at Brown’s Town Infant School where she worked for 26 years, the citation said Hillcove under Mrs Sherwood’s leadership had “achieved exceptional academic success” and was producing top-performing students in PEP.
The citation chronicled her innovative work as an educator, prior to her leadership of Hillcove. These included her creation of Project Road which evolved into a National Summer Reading Project. This innovation was while she worked as an Education Officer.
“Beyond her professional accomplishment, Mrs Sherwood’s philanthropic efforts have significantly impacted her community. As an active member of the Brown’s Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, she is lauded for her unwavering service, competency, work ethic, strategic insights, and creative problem-solving initiatives. Her personal ministry includes acts of kindness, empathy, and sacrificial giving such as providing free accommodation and financial assistance to the needy.”
(Congratulated by son Det Inspector Ransford Sherwood)
Mrs Sherwood told the North Coast Times she was grateful for the award. She said she was thankful that her work had been recognized, even though she had not been working for public recognition but rather to change lives.
Here is a piece of the action from the awards ceremony at which Mrs Sherwood was honoured:
