Sugar Ray Thomas
She is an educator with 30 years of service in education, most of those years at the tertiary level.
Sandra Brown has worked at several institutions including Moneague College, CAST (now UTECH) and Montego Bay Community College. She has used her strong spiritual beliefs to guide her on her journey of moulding individuals to develop a culture of excellence.
In an interview with TheTimes,Mrs Brown shared that after 30 years of work in education, she continues to push forward because of the joy of seeing her past students impact the world. “When you see students who you have moulded and folded into being successful individuals and even being better than you in their field, that motivates you to continue to help others,” she explained.
Early Life
Born Sandra Bulgin in the community of Sommerton in St. James, she went to primary schools there, moved to MuschettSecondary (now Muschett High) School, Trelawny and later Siloah High School, a private institution, where her GCE exams.
Mrs. Brown taught two years at Shiloh High as a pre-trained teacher, before going to Montego Bay Community College in 1980 where she pursued the secretarial studies programme. “After completion of that course of study, I served as an executive secretary to the then principal, Ivy Towsend. After a year, I realized that I really wanted to teach.” She did the diploma in business studies at CAST (now UTECH) and at the end of it, at the invitation of the principal, returned to teach at Montego Bay Community College, in September 1987. There, she lectured throughout all departments of the college.
She went on to obtain a Bachelorof Education in Business Studies from College of Arts, Science and Education (CASE) in 1993.
Her experience at Moneague College
In 1987, Sandra Bulginmarried Gifton Brown and decided to relocate to her husband’s parish St Ann. Thus started her 22 -year bond with Moneague College.
“I applied to Moneague College and I got the job in 1993… I became a senior lecturer in 1994 and head of the Business Studies Department at the college until 1998. In 1996, I got an additional role as the head of the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) for Moneague College and I became a principal lecturer,” she explained to The Times.
In 2010, she became the head of the Examination and Assessment Department for the CCCJ and teacher education department. In addition to this, she sees students on work experience and oversees student-teachers on their practicum.
Despite her mammoth task at Moneague College, Mrs. Brown has expanded her academic qualification with a Masters Degree in Work Force Education and Development in 2001 from Southern Illinois University. She has also been recognized by the Moneague College for her fifteenth and twenty-first years of service to the institution.
Mrs. Brown’s teaching style and interest in her students’ development have left an indelible mark on many of her past students. “There was a girl who came up to me and told me that she was very grateful for my encouragement and belief in her. She said to me that: ‘I failed all my exams and because of you were the head of department, you gave me a second chance. Now, I am doing my degree in literacy.’ That was very heart-warming to me,” explained Mrs. Brown.
Many persons have been a motivational force in her life throughout her 30 years of service in education. Primary among these she mentioned Gloria Johnson, who was principal at Moneague College between 1994 and 2005, and her mother.
FAMILY LIFE
Sandra Brown resides with her family in Discovery Bay, St. Ann. She explained that her family life plays a crucial role in motivating her to continue after 30 years in education. “Credit must be given to my husband, Gifton Brown who always had a passion for his children. He has been my strength,” she explained. Her three daughters – Nadesha, Nazdane and Gifonique — have also been a major force of encouragement in her life.
Mrs Brown is also a firm believer in Christ and is an active member of the Bethel Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church in Ocho Rios for over 22 years. “Under the distinguished leadership of Bishop N.J. Houslin and Bishop O. McKoy, I have garnered a wealth of experience as I served as Sunday school teacher, counsellor, motivator, special ministries director, department supervisor and general church secretary. I am presently on the Board of Directors at this church,” expressed Mrs. Brown.
Mrs. Brown is also a member of the national business education association which is located in the United States. She is a lover of gardening and also enjoys upholstering. “I have no time to spare. I enjoy completing each task I am doing,” she said, with a smile.
Sandra Brown is the classic example of an excellent educator, inside and outside of the classroom.. “Balancing all my activities with my family life is challenging, but I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Life as a Christian for 48 years has been great and I look forward to the remaining years I have in education.”
