Last week, more than 100 Jamaican educators arrived in Florida for the eighth annual Advancements in Education Summit which started on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the Florida Atlantic University, Davie Campus.
The event was held under the theme: “Advancing our Passion for Teaching and Learning: Rediscovering out Why.”
The four-day event was organized by the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network (JDTAN) and sponsored by the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA), Jamaica National Group, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and Union of Jamaica Alumni Associations (UJAA)
Mr. Oliver Mair, Consul General of Jamaica to Miami, La Sonja Harrison, JTA president, and Dr. Linda Johnson, Associate Vice President FAU, were highlighted in the opening session, with a packed auditorium of more than 110 educators from Jamaica participating, many for the first time.
The teachers were greeted at a Welcome Reception in Lauderhill, featuring a Hawaii-type luau, many repping their perspective parishes and schools.
This year’s delegates were the largest contingent of educators in any previous Education Summit; however, each activity went off without any major hitch.
The teachers participated in several plenaries and breakout sessions on various topics today, including mental health and wellness, leadership, and mindfulness.
In their remarks, Chairman Leo Gilling and Dr. Mark Nicely brought the teachers on a journey down memory lane, reminding them of the Summit’s vision, which is to identify gaps and challenges, and customize initiatives and interventions, to empower and get them ready for the next generation of students.
A surprise component at this year’s event was participating teachers from other Caribbean islands, including St Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago, and Aruba, courtesy of the President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT), Dr. Garth Anderson.
The event culminated on Diaspora Day, Friday, June 16, with a Charity Gala with Honorable Earl Jarrett, CEO of Jamaica National Bank, as the Keynote Speaker.
The Gala was a sold-out event and will take place at the Miramar Cultural Center in the city of Miramar.
