Ottis Brown got gifts and heartfelt commendations while performing final duties as the first principal of the 10-year-old Cedar Grove Academy in Gregory Park, Portmore, St Catherine.
“Myself and those I had the responsibility to lead; we paid our dues,” he asserted in his last speech as principal delivered during the graduation ceremony at the secondary school on July 7 – days after Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica, leaving widespread devastation.
Brown recalled experiencing a rocky start in September 2013 when Cedar Grove Academy opened to its first batch of students and staff despite construction works being incomplete.
“The journey was a rocky one,” he said, adding that a number of parents pulled their children who were placed at the institution through the then Grade Six Achievement Test. “Because the building was incomplete and the place was pretty much a dust bowl, they (parents) transferred their children. Nearly 30 of them were transferred to other schools. A little over 70 of them remained with me, and the Ministry of Education at the time took a number of other children using transfers.”
Brown is pleased with the transformation that he said has taken place under his leadership at Cedar Grove Academy. He highlighted achievements in academics, sports and the school’s overall ethos, which he attributed to team-work, promulgation of Christian principles, and the establishment of a ‘culture plan’ – a published copy of which he held above his head for display during his speech.
“I am leaving the Cedar Grove Academy and I charge those who will take over [to] keep the spirit of God in this school; we are a gospel school. Any attempt to remove that powerful presence will result in serious consequences,” he cautioned.
Elaborating on the school’s academic performance, Brown listed students’ achievement in a variety of exams, including the 2023 sitting of the CAPE and CSES – both administered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). Regarding CSEC, he disclosed a pass rate of 100 per cent in Music, Theatre Arts, Office Administration, Agricultural Science, as well as Physical Education and Sports. Of note, the school also attained a 93 per cent pass rate in English A (English Language).
Brown further told the gathering that the school got an overall positive rating in a recent assessment done by the National Education Inspectorate, which has responsibility to examine the performance of local schools.
“Leadership and management [were found to be] Exceptionally High; that’s the highest rating the leadership can get…” he said. “This is one of the few schools in Jamaica where, when it was inspected, no area was found to be unsatisfactory.” The audience cheered.
Among the people who commended Brown while addressing the graduation ceremony is Alando Terrelonge, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, as well as Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central where Cedar Grove Academy is located.
“Thank you Principal Brown on the behalf of the government and people of Jamaica and every single student who has had the benefit of your leadership and your guidance… It has been my pleasure as member of parliament for the last eight years to work with you…” he declared.
A day after the graduation ceremony, Brown took up his new job at the Ministry of Education as Director of Regional Education Services for schools in Kingston and St Andrew.
He previously worked on secondment as Director of Regional Education Services at the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Region Five, and as a senior staff inspector at the ministry’s National Education Inspectorate.
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