PD Magazine 356 OECS PD Magazine NEW (2) | Page 18

Case - Anse la Raye Infant School, St. Lucia T he Anse la Raye R.C. Infant school located on Saint Lucia’s west coast has approximately 75 students on roll and is headed by a dedicated and ambitious principal and nine hard working and enthusiastic teachers. In 2010, Mrs. Mary Samuel, who was a teacher at the school, succeeded Mrs. Valerie St. Helene-Henry as principal. excellence. To their surprise, teachers were able to execute their plans better than anticipated. The principal was impressed with the level of work accomplished by her teachers. The level of interaction among staff was also phenomenal and teachers discovered that they had hidden talents and were able to make presentations skillfully, which boosted their confidence. Teachers returned to their classes During Mrs. Samuel’s five-year tenure, she focused on enhancing teachers’ skills and competencies, teaching quality and raising the standard of students’ achievements. A number of areas for improvement were identified and teachers were given the opportunity to choose a topic to research and present at staff development workshops. She unlocked teachers’ hidden capabilities and skills as she tapped into their strengths. Initially, some teachers were apprehensive about that approach, but Mrs. Samuel believed in the abilities of the teachers to deliver with 13