She has made a successful transition, from her days as a store clerk, to being a teacher and vice-principal at one of the top preparatory schools in St Mary.
Sophia Ormsby is a young teacher who is passionate, dedicated and selfless toher task of developing young minds.
“I never wanted to teach initially, but I know I was called by God to teach, to make a change in someone’s life. The journey hasn’t been easy, but you have to be dedicated despite the challenges and use God to guide you,” said Sophia.
As a Moneague College success story, MsOrmsbyhas been a teacher at Iona Preparatory School since 2007 and acting vice principal of the school,at Tower Isle,since September of 2013. She grewup in Christiana, Manchester where she went to school. After fire destroyed the family house she moved to Kellits, Clarendon and attended the Kellits High School.“Life was more stable there… I excelled while there and got two awards at my graduation for mathematics and accounts. For that, I had dinner with Minister Horace Daley and that really inspired me,” she recalled in an interview with The Times.
After she left high school, MsOrmsby helped her grandmother in a gas station and went to evening school to acquire the necessary subjects to pursue her dream of becoming an accountant.
Defying the odds
MsOrmsby recalled that her parents influenced her to go back to school. However, she found herself pursuing a diploma in education and not accounts as she had intended. “I applied to Moneague Teachers College to do ccounts, but the programme was full…” She registered for teaching in the evening programme so she could work while attending college.
“Initially, I did not give my all to the programme, but after a teacher encouraged me, my grades improved. In year two, my grades moved from C to B and finally to A,” she recalled.
To support herself during college, she worked on weekends as a store clerk and later at Northern Communications Cable Company as an assistant accountant/sales clerk for over a year.
In 2007 she graduated with a diploma in Primary Education and in September of that same year was employed as a teacher at Iona Preparatory.
Her journey at Iona Preparatory School
At Iona Prep, Sophia Ormsbybecame the Grade 5 teacher. “I was at Grade 5 for over six years… During that time, I did exceptionally well. I remember that the Grade 6 teacher, Beverly Douglas said that when she gets the students, they are so well prepared. All she had to do was to put the icing on the cake,” she recalls proudly. As part of her teaching, she gave extra lessons free to some students.
She was elevated to acting vice principal in September of 2013 and then promoted to a Grade 6 teacher in January of 2014. There was more success as a Grade 6 teacher. “The passes for 2014 were exceptional as Iona Preparatory was ranked second in the region for their GSAT results,” she explained, proudly.
The journey for MsOrmsby has had its obstacles, but she has used God as her main source of inspiration to continue. “I remember you had some parents who would watch me and peep at my window to see if I really was doing well… Over time, one said to me ‘you have sense’,” recalled a laughing MsOrmsby.
Without neglecting her work at Iona Prep, MsOrmsbyhas managed to improve on her academic qualification with a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education, at International University of the Caribbean in 2010.
In her short time in education MsOrmsby’s work has been noticed. She received the Teacher of the Year award from Iona Preparatory School in 2013. Also she has received a plaque and certificate from the Ministry of Education for excellence in teaching in St. Maryfor 2014. She credited several persons for moulding her development. These included past educators at Iona Preparatory School — Beverly Douglas (now deceased), Novelette Brown, past principal and Ionie Sanderson.
Sophia Ormsby resides in Exchange, Ocho Rios in St. Ann. She is a very spiritual person and is a member of the World of Faith Ministries in White River, St. Ann. Outside of Iona Preparatory School, she finds the time to help the children of her community in their studies.
MsOrmsby enjoys traveling. She credits her mother, Maxine Boucher and her stepfather, Alfred James for their role in encouraging her. “My mother is always encouraging me and empowering me. She is like my tower of strength. Without her, I couldn’t have reached so far,” she said.
She has her own motivating blue print and mantra: “Always believe in your dreams and go for it. Be your own motivation and use God in anything you are doing. God will guide you on your path to success.”
