Lona Riley-Rhoden - Elgin Taylor

It is a good gesture to assist someone along a particular career path. This was what transpired in the teaching career of Lona Riley-Rhoden, former acting principal of Goshen All Age School in St Elizabeth.

She got her first teaching job as a pre-trained teacher at Troja All Age School in St Catherine. Based on her performance, she was encouraged by education officer Leo Carty and principal and teachers at the institution to seriously consider a career in teaching.

She took their advice and later enrolled at Mico Teachers' College (1976-1979), from which she graduated with a teacher's certificate.

This course of study included an internship year, served at Marlie Mount Primary School (September 1978-August 1979).

She later worked at Ensom City All Age School from September 1979 to August 1981.

While at this latter institution she took part in extra-curricular duties like the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) activities and sports. She also taught Common Entrance Examination classes.

Following her stint at Ensom City All Age, she took up appointment at Morningside Primary School in St Elizabeth, on September 1, 1981.

Her husband, Newell Rhoden, had just been appointed principal of the institution and she joined him there to give her support.

She was also the school's sports coordinator and supervisor of the school's feeding programme. For her sterling effort in fostering the development of the students and institution, she was appointed a senior teacher in 1984.

activities

Riley-Rhoden continued to perform creditably throughout the years, raising the educational and social levels of students through academics and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

When her husband was made principal of Goshen Primary School in St Elizabeth, 1989, she was there to lend her expertise to students and staff at the institution.

She continued with her list of extra-curricular activities and was made netball coach, coordinator of the prefect system and founder of the quiz club.

She was also one of the persons who was instrumental in the establishment of a computer lab, sick bay and construction of a multi-purpose court at the institution. She was made a vice-principal in 2004.

Her students performed well in the Common Entrance Examination and its replacement, the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

A Christian by religion, Riley-Rhoden worships at the St Andrew Anglican Church in Gilnock, St Elizabeth. She opted for early retirement in June 2013.

Nevertheless, this master-in-education degree holder continues to serve the education sector as a part-time lecturer at the International University of the Caribbean (IUC) and Mico University College, STETHS campus.