Educator praises Education Minister: 'I have never felt so motivated yet!'
In her Facebook post, Mrs Christian-Lavia related that she always gives respect where it is due and as an educator in the VI, she previously felt as though educators weren’t valued enough.
She went on to state that she felt as though all was lost and it was just about work.
According to Mrs Lavia, it appeared as though the momentum had dropped and the focus was on money instead of the passion for teaching.
Hon de Castro inspired change
She noted that it all changed in August of 2022.
“…at our training, we were introduced to S.T.E.A.M here in our territory..and we were encouraged to move FULL S.T.E.A.M ahead! I have never felt so motivated yet! … I turned to one of my colleagues and I said, ‘I think this academic year is going to be the best one yet..’ and it began…
"Hon Sharie Watchman de Castro geared us up, and basically connected our purpose as educators…what she said on that day has made my life as an educator easier, and life on a whole…’You can’t expect to make change if you give exact,'“ Mrs Christian-Lavia wrote.
She said she took this advice and took the time to reflect and work on herself.
“Since then? I have been getting good grades in my Master's Programme..why? Because I ain't giving exact! My scholars are excelling, why? Because I refuse to give exact…I’m giving more so that I can get change!” Mrs Christian-Lavia went on to state.
'Being an educator isn’t easy'- Christian-Lavia
She further expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports for motivating educators to make a change.
“I never was one who was made to fit in, and I’ve grown to accept that…but this is the BEST I’ve felt in just the short three years as an educator here in the Virgin Islands,” Mrs Christian-Lavia emphasised.
She further acknowledged that being an educator isn’t easy, but noted that 2023 Education Week was one for the books as she continued to express gratitude.
“I’m sure many would echo the same sentiments! Thank you once again and I am excited about where we are taking education!
"Change doesn’t happen overnight…but each of you prove that giving exact isn’t cutting it,” Mrs Lavia said.
Hon de Castro only took up the post of Education Minister in May 2022.
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35 Responses to “Educator praises Education Minister: 'I have never felt so motivated yet!'”
- New High School buildings and facility to take our teachers and children out of that moldy building they were put in by the NDP for a ridiculous amount of money monthly paid to the NDP partner where that contract was never audited.
- Electric shuttle bus ride service around town free to all who use it. I use it all the time and love it.
- New Road Town Market Square.
- National Sustainable development plan projecting the way forward for the BVI for the next 20 years which shows progressive and innovative thinking. This was assisted by the UN.
- Thousands of persons received their belonger status after being bluffed by NDP for years.
- Direct flights to USA(Miami) and back starting soon.
- Revived the Cruise industry after Covid
- Salary review for all public officers ongoing
- Paid some of the many increments due to public officers long before VIP took office.
- Repaired the BFEC school building on VG
- Repaired 3 Administration buildings on VG from the damage from Irma. One in North Sound and two in the Valley.
- Fixed the resivor in North Sound, VG and the water woes.
- Repaired the Administration building in JVD from the damage from Irma and named it.
- Fixed the Lee Road in Virgin Gorda
- Constructed new port dock, building and other facilities on JVD.
- Paved Dog Hole road on JVD.
- Constructed and paved new and existing roads on JVD.
- Address JVD water issues.
- Paved and Repaired new and existing roads on Anegada.
- Repaired CCEC school structure on Anegada
- Repaired basketball court and sport facility on Anegada
- Repaired Fire station building on Anegada.
- Repaired community center building on Anegda.
- Repaired Administration building on Anegada.
- Repaired many community centers on Tortola including Sea Cow's Bay, Brewer's Bay, West End and others.
- Constructed new modern lab at the hospital in Road Town.
- Completed and opened Hospital in VG.
- Passed many good governance legislation
- Governed during the most difficult time in the BVI and world during covid coupled with dealing with all the damages left unattended to by the NDP Government after Iram and Maria.
- Did an excellent job in keeping a high majority of us safe and alive during the worse of covid and prevented the economy from tanking out with some of the same grants they are now being crucified for now by others who want the public to think the good they did to help is really bad.
- Repaired many of the roads and infrastructure on Tortola and the other sister islands from the damages from Irma and Maria.
- Restarted the scholarship abroad programme that was stop after Irma where 50 or more BVI people are now receiving government scholarships yearly to study abroad.
- Teacher Associate & Bachelors programme at HLSCC and UWI to ensure teachers are trained and qualified.
- Gained accreditation of hospital.
- Assistance in funding Masters and above programmes.
- Major duty tax break for all during covid to pass on to consumers to try to assist in lowering the cost of living which is rising worldwide.
- Unemployment benefits during COVID where no one in the private industry could work during to the lock down.
- Transportation programme to assist taxi industry during covid lock down.
- Amended customs act to allow for many entrepreneurs in the marine industry during covid.
- Started Marine course and certification at HLSCC to create more opportunities in the marine industry through jobs and entrepreneurs by training and qualifying persons interested from BVI.
- Retrained and retool persons in the Hospitality industry during covid to prepare them for new opportunities.
- Started certification programme in the area of alternative energy at HLSCC.
- Gained accreditation of HLSCC.
- Continued subsidy for ferry transportation to and from Anegada for Anegadians.
- Repairing the Administration building in Tortola that was damaged after Irma and never attended to by the NDP.
- Tax break on stamp duty for all belongers purchasing land and property during the covid era.
- Saved many businesses, persons and university students from demise through the same grants they are now being crucified for by the well planned attack.
- Constructed, Repaired and paved many new and existing roads on Tortola.
- Repaired the Ivan Dawson school and many other school facilities on Tortola.
- Commenced construction of the long awaited and promised new school facility on Jost Van Dyke.
- Made sure everyone was fed during all the lock downs with covid with food vouchers and home deliveries among other means.
- kept us informed and safe as much as was possible during the early bad days of covid where no government in the world knew what to do as there was no playbook for this worse pandemic in the last 100 years.
- Made sure all district representatives received the same amount of funds whether in government or opposition to try to help we the people during the worse of covid.
- The first government in years to pass all budgets on time and balanced each budget each of the four years in office.
- Passed all financial ratings regionally and abroad.
- Funded many senior citizens programmes to take care of our seniors.
- Restarted the Alternative Education programme so persons who did not finish school can attend and get their high school diploma.
- Repaired the multipurpose complex and a/c after major damages due to Irma.
- Repaired the police stations and marine bases after damages from Irma.
- Assisted in the opening of Banco Popular on VG so there can be banking on VG again.
- Passed consumer protection legislation.
Will stop there for now as the list is extensive. The VIP good far outweighs their negative and that is why the ongoing devious plots are intensifying to try to get in people's mind otherwise to try to influence the elections and try to get VIP out to turn it over to the rich and famous but who GOD BLESS no man can curse.