Mrs. Yvonne Miller-Wisdom - Tashieka Mair photo

By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau

She got her first stint as principal in 2004 when she was sent to the newly-opened Success Primary School in Rose Hall, St. James, and already Mrs. Yvonne Miller-Wisdom has received three medals of recognition for outstanding work.

The latest is her placing second in the Lasco Principal of the Year Competition in December at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St. Andrew.

She was runner-up behind Sharon Reid, principal of St. Andrew High School for Girls.

"I felt honoured after working so hard for many years, even though I wasn't working for an award," Mrs. Miller-Wisdom told The Star. "I'm the type of person you could describe as selfless and dedicated and I take my work very seriously so when it is work time I am willing to go the extra mile so that I am successful in whatever I do."

She won for herself $40,000, a mobile phone, spa treatment and a Lasco gift basket.

The educator, who has been teaching since 1977, was nominated by her vice-principal to take part in the competition that involved principals submitting a portfolio of plans to improve the education system.

The participants had to undergo an intense interview with a panel of persons including education officers and a representative from Lasco.

"It was a close competition and I know that someone had to win, so even though I did not win, I'm still a winner for getting so far after just two years in my position," an elated Mrs. Miller-Wisdom said.

She applied for the position of principal while she was a master teacher at the Howard Cooke Primary School.

The teacher, who was among the very first set of master teachers in Jamaica, found it hard to accept the challenge as her GSAT students were doing so well and she did not want to leave Howard Cooke.

However, after being pressed by an education officer who saw her potential, she applied for the post.

For her, the transition was easy as she was a part of a panel that conducted assessments of other schools and, therefore, received useful experience in leadership.

Since her appointment, she has implemented several of her initiatives and has adopted new methods of teaching which she hopes other schools will adopt.

These include creating a school museum that is also a tourist attraction, reading, writing, viewing, and speaking centres to enhance learning and a library, among many other initiatives.

She even formed an area called the 'land of manners' where students learn etiquette, manners and socialisation skills.

These were among the ideas that she had entered in the competition.

"I want to make a difference. I want to create a model school," she said. "When people hear about Success they are not going to see a traditional type of school but they will see a difference, a model school not just for St. James but the entire Jamaica."

She hopes that some of her initiatives can be implemented in other schools.