Retired Primary School Educator Receives PM’s Medal of Appreciation

For more than three decades, Elaine Carlene Elliott-Matthews nurtured the minds of pupils of Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School in St. Catherine.

What gives her most satisfaction is to see children overcome ignorance and progress to learn to do tasks that once seemed too difficult.

“It is truly fulfilling to watch a child evolve from basically knowing so little to be able to understand nuanced concepts, do complex tasks and express themselves intelligently. I find that kind of transformation so amazing,” she tells JIS News in an interview.

For her service to Education, the retired Educator was presented with the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation, at Jamaica House, recently.

Mrs. Elliott-Matthews started out as a teacher in various subjects, and 15 years later she became a guidance counsellor. This gave her the platform to assist in making changes at another level.

“Teaching today is more difficult, as the children are easily distracted. They get caught up with their smartphones and tablets. Their bodies are in the classroom, but their minds are on other things. However, guidance counselling provides the tools to get them back on track,” she explains.

In that environment, it is not just about the academics; it is about life lessons, how to be your best self, how to learn and how to live.

“I get them to focus not so much on the process but the end product, equipping them to become top-class students and, ultimately, productive citizens,” says Mrs. Elliott-Matthews.

“It’s all about hard work, getting priorities right and making sacrifices for the children,” she shares.

Mrs. Elliott-Matthews received her primary education at Old Harbour Primary School before moving on to St. Catherine High School. She received her tertiary training at St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College and then The Mico Teachers’ College, where she graduated at the top of her class.

She tells JIS News that she was surprised when she got a call from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) that she had been selected to receive the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education.

“I was very surprised and elated. It was like a double celebration, as the function was just days before my birthday,” she says.

The retired Educator tells JIS News that this is her first national award, but she had been given accolades by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and the Guidance Counsellors’ Association of Jamaica.

Mrs. Elliott-Matthews wants her work to continue, even though she is not there in person.

“Not long ago, I attended a youth camp where a friend told me that I had a wealth of information that I should document. He believes that many students could benefit immensely. I intend to take his advice,” she says.