Innswood High Awards Outstanding Staff

Several staff members at the St. Catherine-based Innswood High School have been recognised for dedicated service over the last academic year.

During a function held on Tuesday (October 15) at the institution’s campus, under the theme ‘Raising the Standard Through Improved Morale’, awards were presented to outstanding teachers across various departments and support staff.

Acting Vice Principal of the school, Camella Mullings-Wilson, told JIS News that the awards ceremony, which was being held for the third year, is a means of motivating every category of staff “from the security to the person that cleans the grounds”.

It is organised by the school’s Stakeholder Morale Improvement Committee (SMIC).

“We have seen where people have come together, people are more enthused to work and students are now involved in the programme, and their morale has also improved,” she noted.

This year’s awards ceremony included a sip and paint segment, which Mrs. Mullings-Wilson said was “a nice twist. We really enjoyed ourselves”.

Language Teacher of the Year, Sarafina Bailey, was pleased to receive the award for the second year in a row.

“I put in the work. The children and I have a very beautiful relationship, and I’m happy that my hard work has paid off. It is a great feeling and Innswood is the place to be,” she told JIS News.

Mathematics Teacher of the Year, Jhavel Senior, said, “To be acknowledged in this way is a good feeling. I worked in many other professions, but the acknowledgement raises the morale. The job is fun and it (award) goes a far way.”

Senior Secretary, Janiel Gordon, who was named Ancillary Staff of the Year, told JIS News that this was the first year that she was eligible for an award as she previously served on the organising committee.

She expressed gratitude.

“Knowing that your hard work and dedication are appreciated and have not gone unnoticed will push me to do more,” she said.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the event and conceptualiser of the award scheme, Angela Easy-Brown said it is a “God-mandated task”.

She noted that the award programme has grown from rewarding exceptional effort with tokens like phone credit to the staging of the annual awards ceremony as sponsors came on board.

“If we improve morale, we will get the standard to be high. Innswood has talent, the staff are just great, and if we get the resources we will go far,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Vice Principal told JIS News that students did well in the 2024 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

“Our head boy got all his nine subjects and our head girl copped all eight subjects. Both are at The Mico University College studying to become teachers. We have other students who got seven subjects and we are making our mark and we intend to make this academic year, even better,” she said.