By SHAVAUGHN MOSS, Lifestyles Editor, shavaughn@nasguard.com

The anticipation is building, and the 12 finalists for National Teacher of the Year have descended on New Providence to see who will claim the coveted title for the 2008-2010 period.

The Eighth National Teacher of the Year Awards are scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 5, under the theme "Celebrating Quality Teachers: Achieving our dreams through Education".

Outgoing top teacher Tamika Cartwright (2006-2008) will pass the baton to a new recipient during a black-tie affair at the British Colonial Hilton, Marlborough Street, at 7:30 p.m. The awards evening is the climax of five months of school and district rounds, and assessment of finalists to determine who will be the top teacher.

Educators play a significant role in nation-building, and to honor and reward teachers for their outstanding contributions in the field of education and to encourage and motivate those teachers that had become "jaded" to perform at high standards the National Teacher of the Year awards ceremony was implemented.

The program also allows teachers to showcase and share their teaching talents with their colleagues and introduce outstanding teachers to the wider community.

The National Teacher of the Year winner will receive $7,000 in cash prizes from the Ministry of Education and local law firm Higgs and Johnson; a weekend stay at a local resort and an all-expense paid trip to an international conference and the prestigious Crystal Lamp of Learning.

"This is an exciting time in the calendar for teachers because it gives them an opportunity to be recognized for their hard work and commitment to education in The Bahamas," said co-committee chairman Mr. Anzlo Strachan.

Prior to Saturday's awards night, district finalists from New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands gathered in the capital for a packed itinerary.

On Wednesday, Apr. 2, the teachers were hosted to a reception by the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT). Other activities planned for the celebration included a church service at Epiphany Anglican Church, Prince Charles Drive.

The finalists, along with school winners, their guests, and committee members traveled to Harbour Island via the Bahamas Ferries for a day of relaxation and Family Island hospitality.

The BUT introduced the Teacher of the Year awards program to recognize and pay tribute to the excellent teachers in the public school system throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Awards were presented in four categories named after former union executives and a founding member. In 1998, the Ministry of Education combined forces with the Bahamas Union of Teachers to continue the recognition of teachers, and the National Teacher of the Year Awards was born.

FINALISTS

*Abaco

Rochelle Clarke-Russell

The great influence of teachers on her life motivated Rochelle Clarke-Butler to become a teacher. Mrs. Clarke-Russell earned an Associate of Arts Degree from the College of The Bahamas in Primary Education along with a Teaching Certificate in 1998. She was posted to Central Abaco Primary School in September of 1998. Clarke-Russell believes that all students can learn and must be given the equal opportunity to do so. In 2001, desirous of enhancing her skills to better serve her students, she enrolled in the Bachelor's of Education program at COB and graduated with distinction.

In addition to classroom duties, Mrs. Clarke-Russell has served on the school's Literacy Committee, Junkanoo Committee, drama and social clubs. She has also been a school mentor, GLAT marker and GLAT Language Arts Coordinator. She is a Sunday School teacher and is a member the Abaco Tennis Association.

*Eleuthera

Mrs. Fontella Knowles

Andros-born Fontella Knowles operates on the principle that, "To teach is to touch a life forever." Her journey into the teaching profession started as a teenager when she would instruct her little cousins to pay attention to her lessons. Her classes were usually held under a tree. Later, she was inspired to enroll in the education program at the College of the Bahamas where she majored in Social Studies and Geography. Seven years later, she is the head of the Social Studies Department at Preston H. Albury High School in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. She has also taught at schools in New Providence and Abaco.

Knowles is involved in many extra-curricular activities including the Anchor Club, Girl Guides, cheerleading, softball and Junior Junkanoo.

*MICAL

Thakoordeo Anoop

Thakoordeo Anoop is a native of Berbice, Guyana who came to The Bahamas to teach in 1997 and was assigned to the Abraham's Bay All-Age School in Mayaguana. He taught there for one year before being transferred to the Pirate's Well All-Age School on Mayaguana, where he served as acting principal and teacher, preparing students for six subjects in the Bahamas Junior Certification examinations. Although challenging, Anoop's hard work was rewarded with his students successfully passing their exams and being granted scholarships to attend institutions in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

After four years of teaching in Mayaguana, he was transferred to the Inagua All-Age School where he also served as acting principal for two of the five years at the school.

Anoop feels at home on Inagua and serves as a member of the sports committee, the fund-raising committee and the academic committee at Inagua All-Age School.

*Northeastern New Providence

Tamara Vonetta Rolle

Tamara Rolle's education started at the Martin Town Primary School on Grand Bahama before she re-located to New Providence where she attended the Oakes Field Primary School and later St. John's College. On completion of high school she enrolled at the College of the Bahamas in pursuit of a degree in Social Studies. After achieving her degree in 1995, she was posted to the L. W. Young Secondary School. She served on the school's Social Club, fund-raising, graduation, and prom committees.

In 2002, Rolle was transferred to the Prince Charles High School (now the Doris Johnson Senior High School). Her deep-rooted altruism was evident in the many roles she took on in addition to her teaching duties. She has served as an advisor to the Key Club, Teacher of the Year Committee, and teacher cadet advisor. Rolle says her attendance at international and national conferences and workshops has positively impacted her development and her teaching methodologies for the betterment of her students. Rolle is a member of Christ the King Anglican Church and Barabbas and the Tribe Junkanoo Group and Community Organization.

*Northwestern New Providence

Rochelle Coakley

Rochelle Monique Coakley began her education within the walls of the school she now teaches — Albury Sayle Primary School, formerly the William Sayle Primary School. She later attended the S.C. McPherson Junior School and the Government High School. Upon graduating high school, Coakley was torn between her love for children and her love for math and accounting. Her love for children won and she entered the College of the Bahamas as a Primary Education major. Later, she received a Bachelor's of Education degree from the University of the West Indies.

Coakley's teaching career spans 18 years and includes postings at the Fox Town Primary School in Abaco, Freeport Primary No. 2 in Grand Bahama and, currently, the Albury Sayle Primary School where she is a grade one teacher and grade level head. Her love for children and commitment to education extend beyond the classroom. She is a member of the International Reading Society, a marker for the Grade Level Assessment Test, and a member of the Ministry of Education's 2008 Curriculum Writing Team.

Miss Coakley is an active member of the Highbury Park Church of Christ and her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking and singing.

*Southeastern New Providence

Marcia D. Musgrove

Marcia Denise Musgrove's journey into teaching was precipitated by a neighbour who twice gave her a chalkboard set as a gift. This began her first experience, teaching "real and imaginary friends on the porch." This act, combined with inspiration from her teachers and conviction that this was the path that God wanted for her, caused her to enroll in the College of the Bahamas in 1994. She graduated with an Associate degree in Biology and Chemistry (with credit), and a Teacher's Certificate in Secondary Education — Biology/Chemistry (with Honors).

While enrolled in the College of the Bahamas, she was ignited with a new passion when she took a class in Marine Biology. This resulted in her writing a paper on the, "Feasibility of Establishing a Marine Science Curriculum in High Schools in The Bahamas". She also changed her focus of study to marine biology. In 1997, she transferred to the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, where she completed her studies in Marine Biology, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Currently posted at the C. V. Bethel High School as a Biology and Marine Science instructor, Musgrove is an avid promoter of environmental stewardship and a believer in community building. She is a member of the committee for the development of national curricula in science and a member of BREEF. She attends the Grant's Town Seventh-Day Adventist Church and serves in Youth and Music ministries.

*Andros

Perliemae Butler-Francis

Pearlimae Francis began her education at the Victoria Point All-Age School in Mangrove Cay, Andros at age four. She completed this phase of her education with nine Bahamas Junior Certificate Exams (BJC's), and in 1977, she transferred to the C.C. Sweeting Senior High School in New Providence.

In addition to passing five General Certificate of Education (GCE's) she successfully passed the Grade 5 Theory Music Exam and Grade 4 in Alto Saxophone from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and Trinity College, respectively.

Even though she was uncertain about her career goals, she enrolled in the College of The Bahamas in 1979, and eventually, studied towards an Associates of Arts degree in Music. There, she also entered and successfully passed the Royal School of Music Theory Grade 6 -8 along with the Grade 3 practical in a pianoforte. Later she enrolled in the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia. In 1985, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and as a trained K-12 teacher.

On return to The Bahamas, she was posted to the S. C. McPherson Junior High School where she was instrumental in assisting students in obtaining good passes in the Bahamas Junior Certificate Music Exams. Later, she was offered and took a job with Bahamas Baptist Institute. After five years there, she applied and was offered a partial scholarship and fellowship from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. In May 1992, she graduated with a Master of Music degree.

An island girl at heart, Perliemae moved back to Andros in 1994. During her 14 years at the Mangrove Cay High School where she is posted, she has taught music, social studies, family life and even Spanish.

She is actively involved in her community and is proud of the fact that Mangrove Cay has a concert and marching band.

*Grand Bahama, Bimini and The Cays

Maureen Collins

Maureen Collins attended the William Knibb Memorial High School, then the Shortwood Teachers College in Kingston, Jamaica where she obtained a diploma in Home Economics with credit. She then worked at the Tarrant High School in Kingston as a Family and Consumer Science Teacher for five years.

Her eagerness to expand her horizons into a hotel management career led her to pursue undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and later she attended the Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management in Nassau, The Bahamas to complete her specialized program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Management from the University of the West Indies.

In 1996, she was posted to work as a teacher at the Bimini All-Age School. After six rewarding years there, she migrated to Grand Bahama in 2002, where she worked at the St. George's High School as a Hospitality and Tourism Studies and Family Consumer Science teacher. Three years later, she moved to the Eight Mile Rock High School. After one year as teacher in the Hospitality and Tourism Studies and Family Consumer Science Department, she was elevated to head of the unit.

Since arriving at the Eight Mile Rock High School two-and-a-half years ago, Collins has been relentless in transforming her department into a haven of learning opportunities for the students in the Family and Consumer Science, Hospitality and Tourism Studies. As subject coordinator, she pioneered the Sunflower Garden Restaurant as a part of the school's hospitality program to provide students with first-hand experience and exposure in food preparation and dining room services. She has also facilitated the return of the Bahamahost Program to the school, ensuring that students are certified Bahamahost graduates prior to graduation.

This driven and highly motivated teacher is a member of the International Federation of Home Economists and the Caribbean Association of Home Economists. She is a worship leader at the Open Doors Ministry and assists with an after-school program at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

*South-western Finalist

Shantell Vezel McQueen

Shantell Vezel McQueen is a five-year veteran of the teaching profession, but has already accomplished a lot in that short time. The sixth grade teacher at the Carmichael Primary School previously taught grades five and six, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of the Bahamas in 2002. She has earned numerous certificates from local and international workshops and conferences. Some of her professional development courses include: the Department of Education Lower Primary Unit-Intergrating Phonics and Writing; Ministry of Health-Bahamas National HIV/AIDS Program and Bahamas Wisdom Development Centre Educational Seminar — National Association for Child Development.

She is the grade level coordinator at Carmichael Primary and conducts GLAT afternoon classes. She also serves as a spelling coach, a Brownie Guide and a member of the Technology Resource Club.

McQueen enjoys reading, interacting with new technology, sports and drama.

*Cat Island/Rum Cay and San Salvador

Etric Bannister

Etric Bannister has had 40-plus years in teaching, and has served in Cat Island, Long Island, Abaco and New Providence. He has served as a principal in at the Bennett's Harbour Primary, Devil's Point Primary, and Grand Cay All-Age School (in Abaco). Currently, he is the head of the Language Arts Department at the Old Bight High School.

*Grand Bahama (Primary Division) District

Tammy Elliot Ellis

Bimini-born Tammy Lee Ellis is the 16th of 17 children born to the late Reverend Sammy and Irene Ellis. She attended the Bimini All-Age School then furthered her education at Hawksbill High School, where she graduated in 1987. After high school, she worked at the Valley-Dale Pre-School which transformed her life forever. It prompted her to relocate to New Providence to attend the College of the Bahamas to become a teacher.

Ellis graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Primary Education and Teacher Certification from the Joint Board of Education and the University of the West Indies and received the Thelma Gibson Award for outstanding contribution to Education. On her return to Grand Bahama, she was seconded to St. Paul's Methodist College where she remained until 1999.

Later Tammy re-enrolled in the College of the Bahamas and earned a Bachelor of Education degree with credit in Primary Education. She returned to Grand Bahama and to St. Paul's where she taught for two more years. She later transferred to the Maurice Moore Primary School.

Ellis has served as a union shop steward and historian for the Education Committee of the National Congress of Trade Unions. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Youth Department of the Central Church of God and the Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF).