Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

Caroline Miles - Elgin Taylor

It is always a good thing to be recognised for the contribution one has made to the development of others and the society in general. The feeling is even more special when such recognition comes from one's colleagues.

Caroline Victoria Miles, visual arts teacher at Seaforth High School in St Thomas, is one such person who knows what it feels to be so acknowledged.

"It is always good to be recognised by your colleagues. It is a good feeling, and I am humbled by it," she told THE STAR.

She was speaking in respect of the nomination for the Region 2 Lasco/Ministry of Education Teacher of the Year and the First Global Bank Jamaica Woman of Vision Award.

In respect of the former, Miles revealed that her students had a part to play in the exercise as they were the ones who initially approached the principal with the proposition.

Person of excellence

Her students reported to THE STAR that Miles was a person of excellence, a selfless and dedicated teacher. They commended her for introducing them to creative and innovative ideas, for her open-door policy, and the fact that they could contact her by telephone day or night. They labelled her the "bestest" teacher in the world!

Miles, for her part, expressed her love for the students and her dedication to seeing them excel in their work.

She teaches grades seven-11 students and for 12 years running has had a 100 per cent success pass rate in her subject at CSEC - the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination.

Miles, who believes that she was called to teach, was born in Morant Bay, St Thomas. She was exposed to the discipline at an early age through art and craft sessions at the St Thomas Parish Library. Later, at the Morant Bay High School, her talent was noticed and nurtured by teacher Michael Coates.

She also attended Mico College (diploma in Art Education), and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (bachelor's degree in art education). She is currently pursuing a master's in art education at the latter institution.

Miles joined the staff at Seaforth High School in September 1994. She also taught briefly at the Robert Lightbourne and Denham Town High schools.

She has received several awards over the years. These include the Lasco/Ministry of Education Teacher of the Year Award for Region 2, the Institute of Jamaica Trophy for craftsmanship and originality in art, the JCDC National Fine Arts Award for drawing and painting. She was the winner of the CVM Best Teacher Award competition, a recipient of a long-service award, and a letter of commendation from Seaforth High School.

A multi-talented artist, her work covers several areas including painting, ceramics, sculpture, photo montage, and graphics. Exhibits of her work are to be seen at the National Gallery of Jamaica and the St Thomas Parish Library.

Miles acknowledges that students can be challenging at times, but she is not one who is quick to apportion blame. Instead, she is critical of self, and is ready to analyse their learning styles to see how best to adjust her teaching strategies. To this end, her philosophy is: "A child has not been taught until he has learnt. If the child cannot learn the way you teach, teach the way he learns."