4th Grade
Lew Muckle Elementary School
“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” —William Faulkner
With this quote in mind, I am a very well-rounded individual and have been afforded opportunities that remain dear to me. My parents, Noel Wynter, Sr., and Jerraine Miller instilled in my siblings and me the values of excelling and attaining our goals. Being the oldest, I have always been very protective and a role model for my siblings. This has molded me into the person I am today.
During my adolescent years, I was a member of Lord God of Sabboth Youth Group, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Youth Experiencing Success (YES), Job Opportunities for Virgin Islands Graduates (JOVIG), The Upward Bound Program, and the St. Croix Central High School Concert Choir. Participation in these various organizations afforded me the opportunity to travel, garner friendships, make wise career choices, attain lifelong skills, and forge positive relationships with the youths of our community.
My strengths are patience and determination. I recognized my strengths immediately after graduating from high school. Six months before I completed high school, my mother, who at the time was a Sergeant First Class in the National Guard, received her orders to relocate to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. That fall, my family left for Virginia without me because I preferred to attend the University of the Virgin Islands. However, my parents ensured I learned and understood the responsibilities of being independent. I remember being a cashier at Plaza Extra. When I received my maroon smock, I was on top of the world, and when I received my first paycheck, I was over the moon. I was determined to succeed. I enrolled in the University of the Virgin Islands’ Elementary Education Program and also worked with the work-study program in the Financial Aid department. I enjoyed school, being independent, and appreciated everyone that played a role in me achieving my goal.
I graduated from the University of the Virgin Islands in May 2004, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Social Science. Immediately after, I gained summer employment with the Department of Education’s Special Education Summer program. This experience was my first realization that I was in the right profession, eager to assist in making a positive impact on the lives of young people. In the fall of 2004, I became a full-time Elementary Education teacher with the Virgin Islands Department of Education at Lew Muckle Elementary School, where I currently teach.
As an Elementary Teacher, I believe students should be educated using a holistic approach where they are engaged in the elements of the hidden curriculum and culturally responsive teaching practices. This is the sole purpose of why I work tirelessly to spearhead activities, both on and off campus. I have organized and assisted in the planning of field trips on- and off-island, school-wide assemblies, Parent Teacher Association meetings, athletic events, field days, and cultural events, to name a few. I have chaired and been a member of numerous school committees, such as the Positive Behavior Intervention Support team, Health and Wellness Committee, National Elementary Honor Society, Festival Committee, Social Committee, School Improvement Team, and Queen Show Committee.
For the last ten years, I have proudly coordinated events for the Lew Muckle Elementary School Steel Orchestra and multiple athletic experiences for the Lady Lions softball team. The Lew Muckle Elementary School Steel Orchestra has been invited to perform at numerous community events, such as groundbreaking ceremonies, Jump Up, United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism commercials, welcoming incoming passengers at the Henry Rohlsen Airport, Agricultural Fair, Chilli Cook-Off, brunch at Ocean View Café, Christiansted Annual Boat Parade, Almeric L. Christian District Court, and more.
As the manager of the Lady Lions softball team, I have organized participation in on- and off-island tournaments, and enrolled the team in Little League in order to provide more exposure and development in the sport for students. Our team proudly carries the 2019 -2020 Department of Education Interscholastic undefeated title. Leading committees and athletic teams at Lew Muckle Elementary School have allowed me to impact students academically, socially, and emotionally. I encourage family participation and engagement by facilitating activities that mold the groups as ONE.
As I conclude, my greatest accomplishment is being the mother of seven-year-old Omar B. Mutidi Jr. Omar attends the Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School and is very involved in extra-curricular activities. He plays soccer and tee-ball, dances moko jumbie, plays steelpan, swims, runs track-and-field, and enjoys being a thrill-seeker. I also ensure he attends church regularly.
Many question how I manage his schedule and mine, but this is where his village plays an integral part. Omar Jr. and I appreciate his dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, close family and friends, and his church family for their support. I know the value of having a supportive village; therefore, I am devoted to the community, especially the youths.