Out of a 45-person candidate list, one person will rise to the top and claim the Department of Education National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) 2015-2017, and walk away with a prize package that includes $7,000, a weekend stay for two at a local resort, an all-expenses paid trip to an international education conference and a plaque.
In selecting the winner, the judging panel takes into account the educator's extracurricular activity (10 percent), professional development (10 percent) contributions to education (15 percent), general student progress (10 percent), personal philosophy (five percent), teaching proficiency (30 percent), interview (10 percent), and video presentation (10 percent).
The NTOY which is being held under the theme "Celebrating Quality Teachers: Recognizing Pathways of Excellence" will be named on March 28 at the Atlantis Theater.
The first runner-up will receive $3,000 and a plaque; the second runner-up will receive $2,000 and a plaque; the third runner-up will receive $1,000 and a plaque; district finalists receive a $1,000 stipend towards attending an international conference.
Events leading up to the finale include a church service on Wednesday, March 25; Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) reception on Thursday, March 26 and a boat cruise on Friday, March 27.
NTOY was introduced in 1988 by the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) to recognize excellent teachers in the public school system throughout The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Ten years after it began, the BUT joined forces with the Ministry of Education for the award. The result was the NTOY award exercise that is organized in school districts and includes primary, all age, secondary and special schools.
The objectives of the NTOY award are to highlight the significant role of teachers in nation building; to honor and reward teachers for their outstanding contributions in the field of education; to encourage and motivate teachers to perform at high standards; to provide teachers with the opportunity to showcase and share their teaching talents and to introduce outstanding teachers to the wider community.
Department of Education National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) 2015-2017 candidates
Abaco
Nadia McDermott, Fox Town Primary (Generalist)
Magdalene Mills, Abaco Central High (Social Studies)
Eleuthera
Sharon Scott, Central, Eleuthera High (Biology/Chemistry)
Lenae Brown, Preston Albury High (Mathematics)
Angirece Major, Harbour Island All Age (History/Geography/Civics)
Exuma and Ragged Island
Keniqua Burrows, L.N. Coakley ( Biology/Chemistry)
Grand Bahama (East)
Deanna North, Freeport Primary (Generalist)
Arnold Martin, Jack Hayward Junior High (Social Studies)
Stephanie Higgs, Jack Hayward High (Physical Education)
Grand Bahama (West)
Danicia Dean-Campbell, Sister Mary Patricia Russell Jr. (Language Arts/Literature)
Levette Smith, Bartlett Hill Primary (Generalist)
Melinda Green, Hugh Campbell Primary (Generalist)
Canovia Missick-Ferguson, St. George's High (Health Science)
MICAL
Dominique Moxey, Crookes Island High (Religious Studies)
Sophie Lightbourne, Inagua All Age (Spanish)
North and Central Andros & The Berry Islands
Marlene Brenwell, R.N. Gomez All Age (Generalist)
New Providence
Northeastern
Dawn Whylly, Centreville Primary School (Generalist)
Shevron Thomas, Doris Johnson Senior High (English Language/Literature)
Trivea Skippings-Culmer, L.W. Young Junior (English Language/Literature)
Denise Francis, Thelma Gibson (Generalist)
Tiffany Burell-Roberts, Uriah McPhee Primary (Generalist)
Northwestern
Tammy Rolle, Albury Sayle Primary School (Generalist)
Paul Adderley, C.C. Sweeting Senior (Hospitality and Tourism Studies)
Tarinda Thompson-Rolle, C.R. Walker Senior (Family Life Health Education)
Theresa Turnquest, H.O. Nash Junior (Religious Studies)
Alicia Davis, Oakes Field Primary (Generalist)
Colette Hanna, Stephen Dillet Primary (Generalist)
Daphne Roberts, T.A. Thompson (Computer Studies)
Jillian Pinder, T.G. Glover Primary (Generalist)
Southeastern
Tamika Bodie, C.V. Bethel Senior (History/Civics)
Audra Tynes, R.M. Bailey Senior (English Language/Literature)
Ramona Wells, C.H. Reeves Junior (Business Studies)
Sherado Gibson, Cleveland Eneas Primary (Generalist)
Nikera Culmer, E.P. Roberts Primary (Generalist)
Southwestern
Bennique Brown, S.C. McPherson Jr. (Reading)
Latoya Williams Brown, Sadie Curtis Primary (Generalist)
Agatha Stuart-Francis, A.F. Adderley (Social Studies)
Raquel Minnis, Adelaide Primary (Generalist)
Lakell Johnson, Anatol Rodgers High (English Language)
Lorna Lightbourne, Carmichael Primary (Generalist)
Lawrenique Bowles, C.W. Sawyer Primary (Generalist)
Xanthe Minnis, Garvin Tynes Primary (Generalist)
Samantha Wilson, Gerald Cash Primary (Generalist)
Yonell Justillien, Government High, (Performing Arts)
Tara Deveaux, Yellow Elder Primary (Generalist)
Past National Teacher
of the Year results
2012-2014 -- Nadia Smith, C.C. Sweeting Senior School
2010-2012 -- Africa Karamo-Miller
2008-2010 -- Marcia Musgrove
2006-2008 -- Tamika Cartwright
2004-2006 -- Yorick Sands
2002-2004 -- Roderick Rolle
2001-2002 -- Stacy Stubbs
2000-2001 -- Joan Knowles
1999-2000 -- Barbara Dorsett
1998-1999 -- Kenneth Romer
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