Dr. Cynthia Munroe to Receive Badge of Honour on October 21

In a career spanning more than 41 years, Dr. Cynthia Munroe has dedicated her life to the field of education, leaving an indelible mark on countless students and educators.

As a retired Principal and current contractual Inspector for the National Education Inspectorate (NEI), Dr. Munroe’s journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to academic excellence and innovative leadership.

Her dedication to professional development and excellence in education for so many years has earned Dr. Munroe the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service, a recognition she deeply values.

“I believe it is a good thing to recognise persons when you can, especially when they are alive, for their hard work and diligence. I am grateful for the recognition. It tells me that my diligence, hard work, and commitment to education have not gone unnoticed,” she tells JIS News in an interview.

Dr. Munroe will receive her badge at the 2024 National Honours and Awards ceremony, to be held at King’s House on National Heroes Day, October 21.

Her passion for teaching began at the Mico Teachers’ College, now The Mico University College, where she graduated and embarked on her teaching career.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Munroe shares that “I’ve been a teacher all my life, or an educator, I should say.”

She began her career in 1973 as a teacher at the St. James High School, eventually rising to the position of vice principal in 2000.

Her transition to primary education saw her take on the role of principal at Corinaldi Avenue Primary School in St. James, one of Jamaica’s largest primary schools with nearly 2,000 students.

Throughout her tenure, lasting 12 years from 2002 to 2014, Dr. Munroe’s focus on academic excellence was unwavering. Her collaborative leadership style fostered a culture of high achievement among both students and teachers.

“I do not just work alone and take everything for myself. I want excellence for my school, so I push for excellence, but I also encourage and motivate my teachers to achieve excellence,” she emphasises.

Corinaldi Avenue Primary has consistently produced top-performing students, earning multiple academic scholarships, highlighting the school’s consistent academic performance under Dr. Munroe’s leadership.

“We gained government scholarships, the Scotia Shining Star Scholarship. There is [even] more than one occasion where we got three scholarships in one year,” she says.
Under Dr. Munroe’s leadership, Corinaldi Avenue Primary flourished as she introduced several ‘firsts’ to the institution, including the establishment of a vendors’ arcade on the school compound.

“We were the first ones in Jamaica to build a vendors’ arcade for our students. We built an arcade on the compound with 10 shops and asked our vendors to apply for the shops because we want students to be able to get meals or whatever they eat from persons who are hygienic. There’s water, bathrooms, and so on,” she says.

This initiative has since been adopted by other schools in Western Jamaica.

Dr. Munroe also spearheaded the creation of a state-of-the-art computer lab at the school, funded through private-sector partnerships. These partnerships were instrumental in providing resources and opportunities that benefited the entire school community.

“We built a two-storey computer lab in 2007 and it was furnished with 66 computers at that time. We were the only primary school in the island that had a computer lab of that magnitude. Our partners were looking for a school and they said they wanted a school with a large population and good leadership,” Dr. Munroe says.

This pioneering effort set a benchmark for primary schools across the island.

Dr. Munroe also spearheaded the complete perimeter fencing of the institution to enhance student and staff safety.

Her contributions did not go unnoticed, as she was named Principal of the Year for Region 4 in 2007 and has served as President of the Jamaica Association of Principals and Vice-Principals.

As she continues to contribute to the field of education through her work with the NEI, Dr. Munroe’s legacy serves as an inspiration to current and future educators.

She offers valuable advice to those aspiring to leadership roles in education.

“Principals need to be good leaders, and you have to learn to be a leader. It doesn’t just come automatically, so our principals must invest a lot in their training so that they can really do enough to move their institutions forward. They have to believe in excellence, and you have to celebrate your students, your teachers and other stakeholders that you have in your institutions,” she advises.

Dr. Munroe’s commitment to excellence, collaborative approach, and innovative initiatives have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and guide educators for years to come.