LIKE a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon as a butterfly, Casmina Bryan has risen from the depths of her challenges growing up in the garden parish of St Ann to claim the title of LASCO Teacher of the Year for 2024. She was acclaimed in December by the Lascelles Chin Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information along with the Jamaica Teaching Council.

But as a young child, the situation was not rosy for Bryan. With the passing of her mother before she was two years old, her circumstances were further complicated with the struggle to find love and acceptance from her paternal and maternal caregivers.

Wherever the tides brought her, everyone recognised that she was a bright student. Despite the many setbacks, she was always focused on education. From her early days at St Ann’s Bay Primary School, to Bethany Primary School, her teachers recognised that she was an exceptional student and worked assiduously to keep her focused.

“Initially I was just a regular student; however, after the teachers learned of my circumstances, they became more compassionate. I enjoyed my time at these institutions, and I did so well academically that I skipped grade five and went on to grade six, where I did my Common Entrance Examinations and passed for St Hilda’s Diocesan High School,” Bryan recounted.

She spent four years in high school, and while still searching to find her footing as a young girl, she became a young mother, twice, before she was able to gain her school leaving or examination certificates.

“I met the father of my first child while I was in high school. He started to provide the support that I did not receive from my father. My academic performance also declined, and by the time my teachers realised what was happening with me, it was too late,” Bryan related.

Life threw her a lifeline, and she received another opportunity to complete her studies at Marcus Garvey Technical High School. However, she was hit with another curve ball. She was not just faced with having another child, but the dreams she had then of becoming a teacher were dashed.

However, the fire within her refused to grow dim, and with the support of people in her community, she worked in varying capacities to take care of herself and her children, until she qualified to work as a pre-trained teacher. During this time, with her sights set on completing her education at the tertiary level, she attended Brown’s Town Community College evening classes and completed the subjects she needed to matriculate to university.

“Initially I had my sights set on attending Moneague College, but all the money that I saved was taken away. I had to start over, but I was determined that I would not allow my circumstances to deter me from achieving my goals. With my renewed focus, I decided to enrol at Northern Caribbean University (NCU),” Bryan said.

At Northern Caribbean University, Bryan pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Teaching, graduating in 2011. During that time, Bryan said she was able to pay her tuition, as well as to access other resources.

“NCU was a game changer for me. It was the best decision I ever made. I could not see myself excelling had I not attended this institution,” she stated. “I joined the university’s work and study programme and met some of my ‘destiny helpers’. I also learned how to be humble and kind. The level of acceptance and encouragement I received was more than I could have hoped for,” Bryan continued.

While at NCU, Bryan also improved her personal and professional development, that fostered her desire for learning. On her second practicum experience at Manchester High School, she represented NCU well and brought her A-game. She was retained as a teacher at the well-known institution, and here she has stamped her teaching prowess for the last 13 years.

At Manchester High School, Bryan is a team leader, grade supervisor, member of the appraisal team and a trained mentor. She is a dedicated teacher of English language, English literature and literacy with a proven track record of improving student outcomes.

Through her hard work and commitment, students on the literacy intervention programme who were reading at the pre-primer and primer levels were able to sit and successfully pass the English language test both internally and externally.

“I am passionate about creating a culture of excellence and making a positive impact. I have also implemented programmes that drive students’ transformation, growth and development,” Bryan said.

She currently serves as a staff advisor for the Manchester High School Tourism Action Club through which she engages students in learning about our tourism industry while giving back through various charity initiatives and environmental preservation projects.

“I will be promoted to master teacher soon, and I intend to make a significant impact using this platform, not just at Manchester High School, but the overall education sector,” Bryan disclosed.

Bryan’s dedication to professional development is reflected in her additional certifications, including designing and facilitating online teaching and learning from The Mico University College, a diploma in business management supervision level 3 from NVQ-J, and technology integration for online learning from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at Northern Caribbean University, to name a few.

Her academic and professional journey underscores her unwavering commitment to education, particularly through the integration of technology and innovative teaching methodologies. As a seasoned educator and the 2024 LASCO Teacher of the Year, Bryan continues to inspire excellence in the classroom and beyond.

In this regard, she was team leader and editor for her group of six professionals from different Caribbean countries who participated in the Caribbean Development Bank-Creative Industries Innovation Fund professional development training on measuring copyright’s economic contributions in Caribbean economies.

Casmina Bryan.