The Virgin Islands Department of Education, St. Croix District, named Dinah Browne, an English teacher at the St. Croix Central High School, as its 2016 District Teacher of the Year at a reception held Sunday, October 30 at Government House in Christiansted.
The celebratory event, attended by district and state officials, recognized Ms. Browne for her achievements, in addition to the four other Teacher of the Year finalists, including Elizabeth Beck, Business, St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center; Sayeeda Carter, English, St. Croix Educational Complex; Barbara Daniels, Music, Ricardo Richards Elementary School and Tysha St. Jules, 6th Grade, Claude O. Markoe Elementary School. Outstanding educators at all 15 of St. Croix’s public schools were also honored.
During her acceptance speech, Ms. Browne acknowledged her colleagues for their tireless work. “I would like to extend my gratitude to all the distinguished members of the Department of Education. I am honored to join such a remarkable and distinguished group of educators who represent the best in the district of St. Croix,” she said. “I am honored because there are simply so many outstanding, passionate and creative educators out there who challenge, support and inspire their students every day. While I am the one receiving this honor today, I must recognize that there are so many dedicated faculty, staff and administrators who deserve our recognition and acknowledgement for their tireless dedication and boundless energy they invest in our students.”
Ms. Browne also extended gratitude to her students for their enthusiasm and desire to learn. “I would also like to take the time to thank our students because without their openness and enthusiasm and desire, all of our ideas and dreams as educators would be for nothing. I appreciate that they are willing to be a part of this journey.”
In closing her brief remarks, Ms. Browne, whose mother worked as a paraprofessional at Pearl B. Larsen Elementary and Arthur A. Richards Junior High, enthusiastically declared, “I love my job.” She went on to say, “I made the choice to be an educator and, in fact, I might even go so far as to say, I always knew I would be a teacher. So, with a heart filled with excitement and exhilaration that I did make the right choice, I say thank you for selecting me as your St. Croix District Teacher of the Year.”
Insular Superintendent Colleen Mae Williams offered congratulatory remarks to the honorees. “We are so excited about the great things you have done at your various schools to promote excellence in education,” she said. “As you move through the activities at your various schools, you touch lives and the lives that you touch are the children that are dear to the people of the Virgin Islands. I want to thank you for going above and beyond, in terms of your work on a daily basis in our schools, the committees that you’re involved in, and the extra work that you put in to ensure our students get the very best education possible.”
Speaking on behalf of Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum, Ph.D., Assistant Education Commissioner Charmaine Hobson offered inspiring words to teachers. “You deserve to pat yourselves on the back, teachers, because you have worked hard and are deserving of this,” she said. “Your colleagues who may need encouragement, pat them on the back and encourage them to be as good as you are or even better. Lastly, continue to give our children hope. We want to thank you so much for everything you do on behalf of our children.”
School administrators praised each of the instructional leaders at their respective schools and showered them with gifts. The Teacher of the Year received a Vase of Excellence award from the Office of the Commissioner, a hand-held bouquet, a gift bag and other tokens of appreciation. The four other finalists also received gift bags and tokens of appreciation.
The special gathering featured renditions of the National Anthem and Virgin Islands March by Michonde’ Delauney of the St. Croix Educational Complex. St. Croix Federation of Teachers President Rosa Soto-Thomas was also in attendance, along with members of the Virgin Islands Board of Education.
Following a selection process, Ms. Browne or St. Thomas-St. John District Teacher of the Year Kendra Vicars will be selected to represent the territory as State Teacher of the Year.
