Basseterre, St. Kitts, 11th April 2024 (CFBC): Raynelle Lord is the proud recipient of the 2024 Joshua Obadiah Williams Excellence Award in Teacher Education, specifically, Early Childhood Education.
At a significant ceremony at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) in the Poinciana Conference Room on Thursday, I April, 2024, Ms. Lord received the monetary prize of EC$4000, up from EC$3500 in previous awards. The monetary prize, which was first established in 1995, 29 years ago, is awarded to the Division of Teacher Education graduate who receives the top grades in the University of the West Indies (U WI) Examinations and the teaching practicum.
Ms. Lord was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1995 to a Guyanese mother and Kittitian father, the very same year the Joshua Obadiah Williams Excellence Award was initiated. From her primary education to securing a spot at Guyana’s most prestigious secondary institution, Queen’s College, she demonstrated academic prowess and a strong determination to excel.
In 2013, Ms. Lord migrated to St. Kitts and enrolled at the CFBC in the Arts, Science and General Studies (ASGS) Division. However, due to unforeseen challenges, she had to temporarily discontinue her studies and take up several jobs, including working at a mini mart, as a substitute teacher at the St. Paul’s Primary School, and as a teaching assistant at the McKnight Day Care Centre and the Industrial Site Day Care Centre, which afforded her the opportunity to gain valuable experience in early childhood education. In 2021, she returned to the CFBC in the Division of Teacher Education in the field of Early Childhood Education. She maintained A’s in every course and graduated at the top of her class in February 2024. In addition to the Joshua Obadiah Williams Excellence Award, Ms. Lord has been awarded the Early Childhood Unit Award, and two legacy awards—the W. Ferdinand and the Dulcie Richardson Teacher Education Award.
The Dean of the Division ofTeacher Education, Dr. Joycelyn Archibald-Pennyfeather, commended Ms. Lord for her stellar performance.
“Raynelle Lord, a student who epitomizes excellence, charted her course with determination and quiet resilience. When she enrolled in Teacher Education in 2021, she endeavoured to maximize every opportunity given to ensure that she was successful in her studies. Today, her success has materialized as she receives the Joshua Obadiah Williams Award of Excellence for returning the best results from her teacher training journey,” said Dr. Archibald-Pennyfeather.
Attendees at the award ceremony included President of the CFBC, Mr. Andrew Abraham, Registrar of the CFBC, Ms. Yasmaine Davis, Vice President ofAcademic and Student Affairs at CFBC, Dr. Moyia Rowtham, Vice President of Finance and Administration at CFBC, Mr. Ian Ferguson, lecturers within the Division of Teacher Education, members of the Williams’ family and teacher education students. Mr. Randolph Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Division of Teacher Education chaired the ceremony and presented a biography of the awardee.
The award commemorates educator, philosopher, poet, disciplinarian and humanitarian, Joshua Obadiah Williams. He was born to Albert Victor and Adosha Elisabeth Williams on October I l, 1926, in Barnes Ghaut, Nevis. After completing the Seventh Standard Certificate at 16, he became a pupil-teacher at St. Thomas School in Lowland, Nevis. He moved to St. Kitts in 1948 where he continued to teach and research. From 1955 to 1957, he attended Barbados’ Erdiston Teachers College, after which he taught at the Cayon School and subsequently the St. Paul’s School. In 1965, he enrolled in the University of the West Indies, Mona, where he earned his Professional Certificate in Education. When he returned to St. Kitts, he was appointed headmaster of the Molineux All Age School (later renamed The Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School). Joshua Obadiah Williams retired as headmaster of the Basseterre Boys School in the early 1980’s.
