Caribbean Educators Inspired to Lead With Resilience

Education summit focuses on effective leadership

By Neil Armstrong

Educators were encouraged to lead effectively at a Fireside Chat at the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network (JDTAN) 11^th Annual Education Summit held at York University, July 6-10, which attracted more than 170 educators from the Caribbean, many from Jamaica.

Under the theme, “Resilience – The Imperative,” the conversation was moderated by Canute Lawrence, a teacher at the Toronto District School Board, with panelists Mary Anne Chambers, chancellor of the University of Guelph; Colleen Russell-Rawlins, former director of education of the Toronto District School Board; and Dr. Gervan Fearon, president of George Brown Polytechnic.

Exploring what effective leadership looks like in today’s evolving education landscape, they drew on real-world experiences and highlighted practical strategies for cultivating positive school cultures, leading with purpose, supporting teacher growth, and advancing student success.

With a strong focus on collaboration, equity, and adaptability, participants were encouraged to reflect on their own leadership journeys and leave with actionable ideas.

Chambers said her Jamaican culture provided her with a certain level of self-confidence that has enabled her in life. 

“If we don’t have high expectations of ourselves, then we’re not likely to be as disappointed when we don’t get very far,” she told the educators, administrators, and thought leaders, after sharing an experience from her early days at Scotiabank in Toronto during which a coworker tried to manage her aspirations.

She said her parents told her that she was wonderful and teachers need to let their students know that they are wonderful and help to bring their parents along as well.

Relating an experience at a meeting at the TDSB Head Office in which a businessman assumed that she was there to provide him coffee, Russell-Rawlins said she stood fully aware of who she was because her mother taught her what it felt like to be part of a majority when she travelled to Antigua every summer. When she convened the meeting, the man apologized.

She learned what it meant to walk into a room and not have to prove herself and understood “the full breadth of who we are and how we show up in spaces.”

 Dr. Fearon underscored the importance of goalsetting and the pragmatism associated with making some decisions to pursue it in Caribbean culture.

He said as someone who was born in the UK, lived in Jamaica for a short time, and grew up in Toronto, it was important to know that he was a part of a culture that had direct roots to his parents.

“I became some years ago the first Black Canadian to become president of a Canadian university. I’ve been president of two universities,” said Fearon, noting that someone asked him how it felt to be the first Black president of a university in Canada.

His answer to them was: “I actually don’t feel special, but my job is not to be the last.”

Chambers told the teachers that they are leaders and so are children. Leadership is the ability to help others to achieve their potential, she said, advising them to never underestimate the impact they have on others.

Russell-Rawlins said it was important for them to manage their emotions, especially in times of uncertainty and change. She encouraged them to develop their learning agility.

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