Principal & Leadership Changes For School Year

June 24, 2015

The Department of Education today [June 24] announced principal and leadership changes within the Bermuda Public School System for the 2015/16 school year.

Acting Commissioner of Education, Dr. Freddie Evans said, “In keeping with our continuing efforts to improve our public schools, and to ensure that the Department of Education offers our students systemic holistic educational programs, we are very much pleased to announce principal and administration changes that will take effect in September 2015.

“Principal transfers had not taken place since 2012. As such, the Department of Education is pleased to provide these opportunities for Principals who were seeking greater professional development and growth in their careers. The Bermuda Public School System will be enhanced as a result.

“In an effort to improve our delivery of Fine Arts and Visual Arts, we have reached out to a veteran leader Dr. Shangri-La Durham-Thompson to fill the vacant position of Arts Education Officer. Dr. Durham-Thompson will bring her wealth of educational and arts experience to design and implement a systemic comprehensive arts curriculum for our students.

“With the departure of Dr. Durham-Thompson from the Prospect Primary School, veteran Principal, Mrs. Holly Richardson, the current Principal of Port Royal Primary School, will fill the gap. In turn, Ms. Joann Dill, the current Principal of Heron Bay Primary School will be transferred to Port Royal.

“Mrs. Sandra Smith, Principal of West End Primary School is retiring at the end of June as well. Mrs. Smith is a well-known educator and reading specialist dedicated to student achievement. Mrs. Trina Cariah, current Principal at Paget Primary School, will be transferred to West End Primary School. Mrs. Cariah’s departure has created an opening at Paget Primary School where veteran Principal, Mrs. Idonia Beckles will be the new leader.

“The recruitment process has already commenced for filling the vacancies at East End Primary School and Heron Bay Primary School.

“The Department’s long serving foreign language teacher and Education Officer for Foreign Language, Miss Lydia Perinchief, will be retiring at the end of June. Miss Perinchief was instrumental in ensuring strong curriculum foundations in the schools.

“She initiated and launched pilot programs for the Portuguese language to be taught at primary schools which proved to successful learning for students. Mrs. Levyette Robinson will assume the post of Education Officer for Foreign Language. Mrs. Robinson is an experienced educator, Principal and former foreign language teacher.

“Announcements will soon be made for the appointment of Principals at the Clearwater and Dellwood Middle Schools. These appointments were not transfers but followed the recruitment process.

“In an effort to strengthen parental involvement in the schools, the PTA’s at each respective school were involved in the transfer of school principals; and all anticipate working together with principals as a team during the upcoming school year, to ensure a school environment that supports excellence and academic achievement for our students.”

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Comments (12)

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  1. Raymond Ray says:

    The following approach is the correct approach. “In an effort to strengthen parental involvement in the schools, the PTA’s at each respective school were involved in the transfer of school principals; and all anticipate working together with principals as a team during the upcoming school year, to ensure a school environment that supports excellence and academic achievement for our students.”

    • Vote for Me says:

      @ Raymond Ray

      An announcement of changes before the actual end of the school year is welcomed but … the PTA’s at each respective school were involved in the transfer of school principals…

      PTAs being ‘involved in’ or ‘advised of’ the transfer of school principals needs to be clarified. Bermuda needs to be mindful of any transfers that do not reflect improvements in education for our students. Student improvement must remain as the hallmark of our education system.

    • Vote for Me says:

      @ Raymond Ray

      An announcement of changes before the actual end of the school year is welcomed but … the PTA’s at each respective school were involved in the transfer of school principals…

      PTAs being ‘involved in’ or ‘advised of’ the transfer of school principals needs to be clarified. Bermuda needs to be mindful of any transfers that do not reflect improvements in education for our students. Student improvement must remain as the hallmark of our education system.

  2. Sailboat says:

    So sad for Arts Education.

  3. Retired Educator says says:

    When will the Ministry break down the numbers in this department? One person retires and two more are added. Bob Richards can save money here. We don’t need another education officer for the Arts. I agree this is sad for the arts. Is this a bilateral move rewarding incompetence? We have a few who have been moved to the ministry for incompetence. In a major report it was recommended years ago that the Ministry is top heavy & to break those numbers down. Each high & middle school has a scale post leader for every subject with a deputy principal overseeing a few departments. Education officers walk into the school, sign the book go to a teachers class, observe for a few minutes, leave the class sign out and gone. Ministry Education Officers for different subjects need to retire, become redundant or go back to the classroom. Please get a stiff backbone and make these much needed decisions for the educational system and Bermuda.

  4. Huh says:

    So VERY, VERY sad for Arts Education. It will go from bad to chaos & confusion

  5. St. D says:

    Prayers that the Clearwater and East End new principals are solid, experienced veterans with a proven track record of leadership and team building!

  6. do better says:

    They are simply moving ineffective principals around. Where’s the plan for development?

    • Sick & Tired says:

      Not all the principals that they have moved are ineffective.

  7. Vote for Me says:

    The inferences from some of these posts is quite negative. We must always be careful not to ‘paint everyone with the same brush’!!

    My understanding is that some of the names mentioned in the release are very highly regarded as educators.

    • watching says:

      People just have to be negative. Don’t take it on.