Young Teacher Cops Mathematics Teacher of the Year

In just three years of being in the classroom, Shanique Pryce has cemented her name in the annals of Jamaica’s education sector.

An educator at the Immaculate Conception High School in Kingston, she was recently honoured with the prestigious title of ‘2025 Mathematics Teacher of the Year’.

A graduate of Camperdown High School, Ms. Pryce reflects on a challenging childhood that was impacted by misfortunes. After losing her mother at the age of seven and growing up without her father, she moved among various family members throughout the Corporate Area.

In high school, Ms. Pryce developed a passion for Mathematics, largely due to the influence of an exceptional teacher, Ms. Bailey.

“She had a remarkable ability to simplify the most difficult concepts, making them easier to understand,” Ms. Pryce recalls in a recent interview with JIS News.

After high school, her attempt to continue her studies at the tertiary level was short-lived due to a lack of financial and emotional support.

“I was enrolled at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, but had to drop out after a year. I then pursued short courses at HEART/NSTA Trust while seeking employment wherever I could,” she recalls.

In 2017, Ms. Pryce learned about a scholarship that the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information offered specifically to individuals seeking to pursue studies in the Sciences or Mathematics.

She applied and was awarded a full scholarship to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, with specialisation in Mathematics at The Mico University College, in Kingston.

“I am forever grateful to the Ministry of Education for the scholarship, which covered meals, boarding and tuition,” she shares with JIS News.

Ms. Pryce completed her studies in 2020, graduating with first-class honors. However, it was in 2022 that she began her first teaching job at Immaculate Conception High School, teaching Mathematics to students in grades seven, 10 and 11.

“Nominating Ms. Pryce for the 2025 Mathematics Teacher of the Year award was an easy decision. It was a no-brainer,” Principal of Immaculate High School, Stacey Reynolds, tells JIS News.

“Mathematics is usually a difficult content area for most of us, but Ms. Pryce makes it seems easy and fun. In just her third year at Immaculate, she brings an infectious level of energy to her teaching,” she adds.

The school facilitates classroom observations, either by visiting a class unannounced or planned, or by casually walking the blocks to listen and observe.

“When I visit Ms. Pryce’s classes, I always feel the urge to participate, and I leave learning something new. She fosters a student-centred environment and implements a rewarding system for her students. Additionally, she is receptive to feedback, both positive and constructive, and actively seeks suggestions. Even if I leave her class before it concludes, she will seek me out to get my feedback,” the Principal says.

Ms. Pryce is described as resourceful, creating her teaching aids and manipulatives, and consistently incorporates games and real-life situations into her lessons.                                                                                                           According to Mrs. Reynolds, she epitomises the fact that you do not need to have years of experience to be good at your craft.  Her success shows that years of experience are not a prerequisite for excellence; you just need to have the passion, a willingness and be open to learning.

“Once she continues doing what she does, I have no doubt that she will seize every opportunity that comes her way,” the Principal tells JIS News.

This year’s competition received 51 nominations from both primary and secondary schools across seven education Regions. The nominations were thoroughly reviewed, leading to the selection of regional semi-finalists. Each semi-finalist was observed while conducting a Mathematics lesson, ultimately leading to the identification of 15 outstanding finalists for Round two.

During the second Round, the regional finalists underwent a rigorous evaluation process, including a second observation and interviews focusing on critical pedagogical areas related to teaching mathematics. Based on a weighted scoring system, the top regional winners emerged, and from this group, five candidates secured their place as national finalists.

The final stage of the competition, Round three, showcased the talents of these national finalists through a third observation and a 25-minute presentation on innovative strategies to enhance student engagement and performance in Mathematics.

Utilising a weighted scoring system, the combined scores from both the observation and presentation were tallied to determine the 2025 Mathematics Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Shauna-Gaye Young Henry, one of the three Mathematics Coordinators who observed the nominees leading up to the final selection, says Ms. Pryce demonstrated a consistent and excellent teaching method.                          “During her engagement with the ladies at Immaculate, it was evident that this is how she interacts with them normally. Her teaching isn’t just a performance; the consistency highlights her authenticity,” Mrs. Young Henry says.

“The questions she asked her students and the activities she gave them were not just regular but they go beyond the ordinary, skillfully linking them to real-life situations while integrating other subject areas. She also encourages her students to discover concepts on their own, which aligns perfectly with our goals,” she adds.

Mrs. Young Henry points out that “for a teacher with just three years of professional practice, Ms. Pryce’s performance is commendable”.

“She demonstrated a high level of skill, particularly in her approach to teaching and learning mathematics, especially considering she was competing against individuals with considerably more experience in the field,” she says.

Ms. Pryce’s unwavering commitment to excellence and her dedication to her students’ success are a testament to her winning the prestigious award, and it is also reflected in the 100 per cent pass rate in external examinations over the past two years.

She was presented with a trophy, a laptop, gift certificates and membership to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)            .

The National Mathematics Teacher of the Year competition was launched in 2013 and is designed to select from a pool of teachers at the primary and secondary levels. It is a critical part of the Ministry of Education’s strategy to change the culture towards Mathematics, due to the central role the subject plays in the learning of other subjects.