Justin Donovan, Director of Education of Hertfordshire County Council, UK, speaking at the Education Week awards ceremony on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Justin Donovan, Director of Education of Hertfordshire County Council, UK, speaking at the Education Week awards ceremony on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Assistant principals from the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) and Althea Scatliffe Primary School (ASPS) will be the first to benefit from training in the United Kingdom (UK) under the Memorandum of Understanding between Government and the Hertfordshire County Council in the UK.

This announcement came from Hon. Myron Walwyn, Education and Culture Minister on Saturday, March 16 during the Education Week awards ceremony held at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.

"I am pleased to announce that the first two assistant principals that will be heading off to Hertfordshire County for training in a few weeks are Mrs. Orlandette Crabbe of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School and Mrs. Vanessa Garraway of the Elmore Stoutt High School. Mrs. Crabbe and Mrs. Garraway, I am well aware of your capabilities and I look forward to your return and the examples you will be setting for all of our educators and administrators," the Minister stated.

Mr. Justin Donovan, Director of Education at Hertfordshire County Council was the keynote speaker at Saturday's event.

In late February during a community meeting held in Carrot Bay, Minister Walwyn announced that the training is for public school head teachers and stated that it is to look at educational opportunities that can enhance the BVI's system.

"Beginning next term and every other month, except during school vacation, two and sometimes three of our primary and secondary school principals will be headed to professional development, school management and leadership training in the UK. I anticipate that those principals that will be granted this opportunity will return and be examples of the direction our schools will be heading in beginning this year onward," he stated at the community meeting.

Speaking at Saturday's event, Minister Walwyn said ever since he met with Mr. Donovan and his staff, they have all been very helpful in understanding the needs in the Virgin Islands.

"Together we have put a plan in place to support professional development, school management and leadership training for our schools' administrators. To help us build that culture of excellence, it is important that we start with the leadership at our schools," he stated.

Minister Walwyn stated that creating and managing an atmosphere for learning goes a long way in ensuring that students understand that once in those school gates, it is time for learning and development.

Meanwhile, during his remarks, Mr. Donovan said their job as educators is to be positive about young people. He related that as educators they owe it to the young people who they are in charge of to ensure that everyone understands that the great majority of young people are a credit to their families, their schools and their communities.

"This is important because children learn best when they are valued."

Mr. Donovan told the large gathering that they also need to encourage children and young people to listen to the adults; and children and young people need to understand that the adults around them may have a point when they offer advice.

He pointed out that all children and young people will experience failure and disappointment at some point, but he noted that they need to understand that if they don't quite achieve what they had hoped for, they need to keep going and trying.