There is considerable prestige that institutions can potentially derive from being named after notable figures in society.

Additionally, there are great expectations of those institutions associated with these names.

Such is the case for the Louise Bennett-Coverley Primary School, located in the hills of St. Andrew East Rural, which was named after one of Jamaica’s foremost cultural icons.

The school, which encountered several challenges during its formative years, is on a renewal journey as the administration navigates the teaching and learning experience with the dynamic approach being led by new Principal, Sheena Taylor Morgan.

Mrs. Taylor Morgan, an educator with more than 10 years’ experience, hit the ground running when she arrived at the institution in May 2023, promoting the vision of excellence and success to the teachers, students, support staff and parents.

“When I came, I observed that we had a rich legacy in terms of culture, and teachers [who] are hard-working. But I said to myself, ‘there are a few things that need to change to effect even greater development and growth for the school’,” she tells JIS News.

Among these were changes in policies regarding accountability and operations.

“The policies were geared towards a holistic approach for parents, teachers, students, all stakeholders that we encounter here daily,” Mrs. Taylor Morgan says, citing the school’s Customer Service Policy as an example.

She notes, however, that some parents still harboured lingering concerns about the extent to and level at which they were engaged when they visited the school.

The Principal points out that steps taken to ensure these concerns were addressed were pivotal in forging a symbiotic relationship between the administration and parents.

“I assured [those parents] that we will, over time, be able to serve them in a manner that is uplifting… thereby [highlighting] the school’s [focus on] customer service excellence. To [that end], we created a Customer Service Charter [which has been] placed in our offices, including the staff room, and Vice Principal and Principal’s offices,” Mrs. Taylor Morgan informs.

With this in place, the educator says interventions were also pursued for students sitting the 2024 Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

“In grade five, there were 49 ‘beginning’ profiles across the four subjects. However, when we got them to grade six, because of the interventions and the hard work from the teachers, as well as parents who were also on board, the results showed that only four beginnings were accounted for, and those were three in mathematics and one in science… that is a 91 per cent improvement,” Mrs. Taylor Morgan informs.

A ‘beginning’ on the PEP profile means the student demonstrates limited or no evidence of the required competence necessary at that grade level, as specified in the National Standards Curriculum, and requires intensive ongoing academic support in grade seven.

Consequently, the Principal initiated a literacy programme in September 2023 that catered to students in grades one to three, which was subsequently extended to youngsters in grades four to six, on the advice of her teachers.

Mrs. Taylor Morgan says additional intervention was also provided through support extended by the Ministry of Education and Youth, noting that the beneficiary students were the last batch impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, she says teachers at the school were afforded the opportunity to participate in workshops organised by the Ministry, with the aim of ensuring that parents and all other stakeholders partnered to help the students.

“I would say that is one of the main things that assisted the students… that intervention programme… just the buy-in that we got from the parents,” the Principal states.

She highlights work undertaken by Grades Four to Six Coordinator, senior teacher, Michelle Barrett Cain, who worked with the students, pointing out that “even when it was break or lunch, she worked with them; so, I believe that’s why we had the success in PEP this year”.

Mrs. Barrett Cain, an educator with over 20 years’ experience, outlines the engagements undertaken with the students.

“We had an intervention programme where we pulled them into different groups, and we adjusted the needs according to what they were, then we brought them back together as a whole class and we continued to reinforce what was needed,” the educator says, adding that “we did videos, music and drama”.

She further advises: “We collaborated with all the teachers in the Grades Four to Six Departments, allowing [them] to give their input and, together, we worked as a team.”

A woman of resolute faith, Mrs. Barrett Cain says she always places God at the helm of preparations for her students.

“God and prayers every morning, and continuous practice,” the distinguished educator adds.

The hard work paid off, as the institution placed second in PEP this year out of 16 primary schools in the area.

Former Head Boy, Shamar Coley, received an award from Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, for emerging the second highest-placed student in the constituency.

Eleven-year-old Shamar, who is now in grade seven at Wolmer’s Boys’ School, expresses gratitude for the support provided by his former teachers at Louise Bennett-Coverley Primary.

“I would say thank you for nurturing and disciplining me. You have been the guiding light of my educational journey, and I am eternally thankful. For other children like me, I also want to tell them to work hard, study harder and stay focused on their own life goals,” he says.

Shamar’s proud mother, Nadine Johnson Coley, says the change in the school’s focus definitely helped her son.

“I am so proud of Shamar, because he got his first choice [high school selected], he did exceptionally well. The changes at the school… created a better environment… [which] helped him to focus and be more disciplined,” she tells JIS News.

The winds of change at the institution also captivated the support staff. Night watchman, Odean Williams, says he is inspired by the students’ progress.

“I am impressed with the improvement of the school. The teachers worked together, and put so many things in place so that the students can get a better education. Our motto is ‘Aim High’, and we are definitely aiming high because the students see what the teachers are doing and are inspired,” he says.

Mrs. Taylor Morgan says she is working with her team to make the institution a primary school of choice.

“Even though the school is located where it is… they are rearing for success; they just want somebody to motivate and inspire them,” she points out.

“We are also hoping that some corporate businesses can come on board and help our students because sometimes the parents are not able to… even though they do as much as they can. We want to highlight what the students are doing here so that the school can become [an institution] of choice,” Mrs. Taylor Morgan says.