Fifteen educators, researchers, and academics have been recognised for their longstanding contributions to early childhood education in Jamaica during an awards ceremony hosted by the JN Foundation.
The event, held at the JN Group Corporate Offices on Oxford Road in New Kingston, was staged in collaboration with the University of the West Indies School of Education Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre. It celebrated the legacy of Dudley Grant, widely regarded as the father of early childhood education in Jamaica, under the theme “Building a Legacy of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.”
Among those honoured were several leading figures in education policy, research, and teacher training.
Recognised recipients included Professor Emeritus Errol Miller, former chair of the Jamaica Teaching Council, and Professor Emerita Elsa Leo-Rhynie, former principal of the University of the West Indies Mona campus and chair of the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust.
Others awarded included Dr Maureen Samms-Vaughan, former chair of the Early Childhood Commission; Joyce Jarrett, known for her work on the Teenage Mothers’ Project and the Roving Carers Programme; and William McLeod, a founding trustee of the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust and former CEO of Van Leer Jamaica.
Posthumous recognition was also given to Dr Rose Davies, alongside several other educators and administrators who helped shape early childhood education policy and training systems across Jamaica.
Strengthening the foundation of education
Chairman of the JN Foundation, Parris LyewAyee, praised the awardees for their resilience and long-term commitment to children’s development.
“We recognise you not just for excellence but for commitment… for showing up day after day for Jamaica’s children,” he said, adding that their work continues to shape the nation’s future.
He also stressed that meaningful progress in education requires collaboration across sectors, including government, academia, the private sector, and communities.
Chief Executive Officer of the JN Group, Earl Jarrett, echoed those sentiments, highlighting the lasting influence of Dudley Grant’s vision and the continued importance of partnerships in strengthening early childhood outcomes.
Dr Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, also commended the honourees and reflected on Grant’s enduring impact on Jamaica’s education system.
One of the awardees, Dr Christopher Clarke, described the recognition as deeply meaningful, noting his long career in teacher education and research.
“To be recognised for work you loved doing is truly meaningful,” he said.
The ceremony underscored the central role of early childhood education in national development and reaffirmed ongoing efforts to strengthen training, research, and institutional support across Jamaica’s education system.
