Anthony Norman: An Educator Called by the Classroom, Celebrated by the Nation

When Anthony George Norman walked across the stage to receive the 2025 Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education in May, he saw it as more than just an award.

It marked the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to shaping minds, building futures and, most importantly, making the study of Geography come alive.

A long-serving Geography lecturer at Church Teachers’ College in Mandeville, Manchester, Mr. Norman spent more than two decades guiding aspiring educators and transforming the way the subject was taught in classrooms across Jamaica. For him, education was never just a job. “I think teaching chose me,” he says reflectively as he recalls his teaching journey, which began in 1979.

“My father’s influence played a big part; he didn’t believe in idleness. So, when the National Youth Service didn’t work out for me, he steered me straight to Church Teachers’ College,” Mr. Norman tells JIS News. Though his sights were initially set on specialising in History and Social Studies, he would eventually pivot.

After graduating from teachers’ college, the Knox College alum spent his early career teaching at Manchester High School and later earned his degree from the University of the West Indies (UWI), where his passion for Geography took root. “It was at UWI, doing all those fieldwork activities, that I truly saw the value in making Geography tangible. That experience never left me,” he explains.

Mr. Norman returned to Manchester High in the 1980s but soon pivoted into a career in life insurance. Yet the teaching chapter was far from closed – it seems the classroom wasn’t quite finished with him.

In 1997, he returned to education after a decade in the insurance industry. By 2000, he had begun a remarkable 20-year tenure at Church Teachers’ College, where he not only taught geography but helped redefine how the subject was imparted.

“Geography isn’t something you just read about; you must see it. A picture in a textbook doesn’t compare to standing at the edge of a riverbank or walking through a limestone cave,” Mr. Norman declares.

Under Mr. Norman’s guidance, fieldwork became a cornerstone of geography education at Church Teachers’ College.

His unwavering commitment to real-world learning empowered hundreds of future educators to carry that same passion into their own classrooms. . Mr. Norman became a mentor, not only to his college students but to graduates across Jamaica who frequently sought his guidance, whether in organising field trips or understanding curriculum requirements.

“I helped many of my former students with field work for their own classes, sometimes even after retirement. It became a sort of second job, one I never planned but fully embraced,” he points out.

Mr. Norman also lectured in Economics at the Management Institute for National Development (MIND), extending his influence beyond traditional classrooms.

Even after his formal lecturing years, he continued to shape young minds at Mount St. Joseph Christian High School and his alma mater, Knox College.

Anthony Norman’s impact extended beyond the classroom. He played a pivotal role in national curriculum development, contributing to the evolution of the CXC and CAPE syllabi during the landmark reforms of the 1990s and 2000s.

As a Social Studies specialist, Mr. Norman was actively involved in the ROSE (Reform of Secondary Education) programme, delivering in-service training to educators.

His influence continued into the development of the current National Standards Curriculum, where he helped shape content and training in his subject areas.

These contributions – often quiet, often behind the scenes – helped lay the foundation for today’s Geography and Social Studies education in Jamaica.

Mr. Norman has co-written numerous academic publications on areas such as Climate Resilience, Greenhouse Technology and Sustainable Agriculture. He is also a member and past executive member of the Geography Teachers’ Association of Jamaica.

Despite his many achievements, Mr. Norman’s proudest legacy remains the relationships he built and the minds he inspired.

His students often speak of his uncanny ability to make geography resonate far beyond maps and charts.

“I tried to teach in a way that would make students remember something, whether it was a field trip, a real-world example, or even a funny story,” Mr. Norman shares. He recalls one such moment when, while preparing students for a lesson on earthquakes, he tied in current events.

“There had just been a major earthquake in Turkey. I brought in news clips, satellite imagery, and made the connection right then and there. That lesson stuck with them,” he notes. Beyond academics, Anthony Norman embraced what educators often call the “hidden curriculum” – lessons in character development, leadership, and life mentorship.

He fondly recalls helping students navigate their formative years and offering guidance well beyond the syllabus.

This he points out, “wasn’t just about books… it was about building young people holistically”.

Now retired, Mr. Norman’s strategies continue to shape Jamaica’s classrooms, enrich Geography departments, and resonate in the hearts of his former students.

One of his former Manchester High students, Alecia Rose, fondly recalls the colourful tapestry he weaved as he introduced her to Geography in first form.

“He painted clear pictures for us as he explained concepts, such as the land of the midnight sun and the Northern Lights. He helped us to grasp the difference between stalactite and stalagmite with ease” she notes.

With a smile, Anthony Norman shares that receiving the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation came as a complete surprise.

“I honestly didn’t expect it… but it means a lot. It validates all the small things, the field trips, the curriculum meetings, the late nights preparing for lectures,” he says.

Mr. Norman also attributes the recognition to his formative years at Church Teachers’ College.

“I believe someone from the College nominated me, and that means so much. It was where my professional journey truly matured,” he tells JIS News, adding “I’m truly grateful [for the award].”

Mr. Norman’s story is one of quiet perseverance and unexpected turns – a man who once imagined himself a youth service volunteer, stepped away from teaching, yet ultimately discovered his true calling in the classroom.

For generations of students and educators, Mr. Norman’s legacy endures as one of unwavering dedication, passionate teaching, and profound human connection.