Top Educators for 2025 Honoured

Mathematics and Information Technology teacher at deCarteret College in Manchester, Dorette Rhoden-Henry, and Principal of St. Mary Technical High School, Orville Richards, have been named LASCO/Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information/Jamaica Teaching Council 2025 Teacher and Principal of the Year.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Teacher of the Year award was copped by Gavin DeRizzio of Vauxhall High School in Kingston.

The outstanding educators were recognised during Wednesday’s (March 25) awards ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Each honouree received $120,000, plaques, and gift baskets courtesy of LASCO, and will have the opportunity to attend the 2026 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Conference in Orlando, Florida, from June 28 to July 1, which will aid in further enriching their professional development.

Shaneika Francis of Clifton Primary and Infant School in Hanover and Venette Bergeron of Manchester High School were named first and second runners-up, respectively, among the Teacher of the Year finalists.

Runners-up for Principal of the Year are Adli Lewis of Seaside Primary and Dr. Mahvell Charlton Brown of Hampton School for Girls, in Portland and St. Elizabeth, respectively.

The TVET Teacher of the Year first and second runners-up are Kedeshia Samuels-McKennon of Vere Technical High School in Clarendon and Matthew Tucker of Green Pond High School in St. James.

The nine finalists shared a total cash prize pool of $645,000. First runners-up each received $60,000, while second runners-up were awarded $35,000.

Portfolio State Minister, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, in congratulating the awardees, emphasised that educators represent one of Jamaica’s greatest assets.

“Your work inspires us, strengthens our education system and shapes the future of our nation. Let us continue to support, invest in and celebrate our educators, not only today but every day, because when teachers prosper our students succeed and when our students succeed, Jamaica wins,” she said.

Ms. Crawford also expressed gratitude to LASCO for its steadfast commitment to recognising excellence in education since 1997.

In his remarks, Executive Chairman of LASCO Affiliated Companies, James Rawle, commended the nine finalists, noting that they embody perseverance, achievement, purpose, and impact.

He reaffirmed LASCO’s commitment to continuing the awards recognition programme, emphasising that it is part of the company’s DNA.

“We will continue to seek ways to enrich this recognition ceremony and to create the opportunity to make it an all-year celebration,” Mr. Rawle said.

The awards ceremony was held under the theme ‘Stabilising Roots while Embracing Change’.