Former Journalist Turned Educator Honoured

Being awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education is more than a recognition of personal achievement for Dr. Darien Henry.

It affirmed the purpose he discovered years ago when he transitioned from the newsroom to the classroom, now leading one of Jamaica’s most dynamic tertiary institutions.

“Broadcast journalism was my absolute first calling, but eventually, I realised that journalism had prepared me to see what needed to be changed in the system, but I didn’t want just to report on it anymore. I wanted to be part of the solution,” he says in a JIS News interview.

The Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education is the highest honour bestowed by the Jamaican government to educators for their outstanding contributions to the field. It recognises educators who have demonstrated exceptional service through innovation, creativity, and community involvement, with a minimum of 15 years of service.

Dr. Henry is no stranger to excellence, having earned national recognition as a teenager. “I think I still retain the record as the youngest journalist to have won a national journalism award at 17 years old,” he notes with quiet pride.

Yet, as he immersed himself in stories about national policy and education, a shift began to take root.

Today, as Principal of Montego Bay Community College (MBCC) in St. James, Dr. Henry is fulfilling that mission, and more.

Since assuming the role in 2021, he has led a bold transformation of the college’s academic culture, operations, and national relevance, championing a model of student-focused, innovation-driven learning.

“We have positioned the college to be a true college of the future. We had an intense organisational review to re-energise the culture of excellence,” he says.

Under his leadership, MBCC has redefined what it means to be a community college in Jamaica.

“We have implemented a divisional leadership model. We have restructured the organisation, created strategic new roles like student success officer and campus safety director. We introduced 21 new college policies, revamped the principal’s honour roll policy, made significant digital upgrades [and] advanced our accreditation journey,” he tells JIS News.

He holds the distinction of being the first male principal in the college’s 50-year history. “But more than that, I’m proud of the transformation that is taking place,” he says.

“MBCC is much more than just a college. It’s a community of scholars and innovators and I believe, without apology, that community colleges like ours are not just second options—we are the best option,” he emphasises.

Dr. Henry is widely regarded as one of Jamaica’s most respected educational leaders. Prior to joining MBCC, he served as Principal of Cumberland High School in Portmore, St. Catherine, where he led a period of renewal marked by improved academic results and stronger student and community engagement.

Beyond the walls of his institution, Dr. Henry is a powerful voice in educational governance. He serves on the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), the University of Technology (UTech), and Jamaica Teaching Council, and chairs the Legislative and Governance Technical Committee of the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission, where he helps shape national policy around access, accountability, and excellence.

“Our charge as educators is to leave the world better than we found it,” he tells JIS News.

That philosophy is evident in his student-first approach. “We’re actually, I think, the first community college to appoint a retention and student success officer,” he shares.

“Our students are now being closely supported from the entry point to graduation. We are tracking them, we are coaching them, we ae encouraging them,” he points out.

The commitment goes well beyond policy. Dr. Henry is present at campus events, in classrooms, and even in the cafeteria connecting with students and staff alike.

“For me, engagement is ongoing. It’s deliberate, it’s multi-layered. I consistently share the college’s vision with everyone to be a global leader in higher education, inspiring a new generation of thinkers to inspire a new generation of problem solvers,” he underscores.

Dr. Henry has no regrets about his switch in career. “I think I’m a natural born teacher and deep down, I think I’m a natural born leader… not just to teach the content, but to shape lives forever,” he tells JIS News.

He continues to be inspired by the achievements of his students.

“One student who is now a dentist went as far as to protest to the then principal to be transferred into my class. Another who is now a mechanical engineer said he wanted to thank me for moving him from the back of the class to showing him that he wasn’t a dunce,” Dr. Henry recalls.

Dr. Henry holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Temple University in the United States; a Master’s in Leadership in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Workforce Development from the University of the West Indies (UWI), and undergraduate degrees in Geography, Environmental Science, and Media Studies.

A former award-winning journalist, Dr. Henry built his media career at CVM TV, RJR, TVJ, IRIE FM, and the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), and regularly contributes to The Gleaner, The Jamaica Observer, and The Reporter magazine of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA).

He is also a Justice of the Peace (JP), a father of two sons, and a volleyball enthusiast who remains committed to mentorship and community engagement.