Shernette Frame-Reid - Elgin Taylor

Stories abound about how persons were able to land the jobs in which they now find themselves.

In the case of Shernette Frame-Reid, a teacher at Parottee Primary School in St. Elizabeth, it came about as the result of a confluence of events which she referred to as a 'design', as previously she had no intention of joining the profession.

"It was just before high school graduation when a friend told me, I would make a good teacher. It happened that very evening that the principal of Esher Primary was looking for a pre-trained teacher and he approached my math teacher about the vacancy. My teacher in turn told me about the job. I applied, did the interview with others, got it and the rest is history," she told The Star.

Her stint at Esher Primary School in Hanover lasted from September 1993 to April 1994, and it was there that she fell in love with the profession, affirming her love for children and the joy in seeing their progress.

She later taught at two other schools in the parish, Lucea Primary (May to August, 1994) and Cacoon All Age (September 1995-August 2010), before joining the staff at Parotee on September 1, 2010.

grade one class

She pursued studies at Shortwood Teachers' College and Northern Caribbean University, gaining a diploma and a bachelor's degree in primary education, respectively.

Frame-Reid's grade-one class has nine students, five boys and four girls, the smallest number of students she has taught in her career. She mentioned that she also assists with the teaching of other classes whenever there are staff absences.

The Lances River, Hanover-born educator also shared that she was happy to be a part of the school's staff, which is in a rebuilding mode. The school's enrolment now stands at 104 students. It was 70 when the current principal took over the job.

In addition to her classroom duties, she teaches a computer class, as well as being involved in the school's choir, 4-H, drama and dance clubs. Her primary concern, however, is the preparation of her class for the next level.

She wants her students to be prepared for the national diagnostic test to be administered at the grade-two level.

"I want my students to be prepared and be able to perform well. So far, they are responding positively. When the Grade One Individual Learning profile was first administered, the students performed on an average basis. It was repeated in November and the performance was above average," she asserted.

The teacher also reported that overall attendance was good. Whenever there are absences, contacts are made with parents by way of telephone calls and home visits.