A Failure By The Board Of Education To Recognize Educators For Teachers’ Day In U.S. Virgin Islands

Dear Editor,

“The first Friday of the month of May of each year shall be observed as Teachers’ Day throughout the Virgin Islands.” That is enactment of the Virgin Islands Code Title 1, section 172.

Section 174 a of Title1, enacts that as part of the observance of Teachers’ Day, the Virgin Islands Board of Education shall select a Teacher of the Year, St. Croix, and a Teacher of the Year, St. Thomas-St. John to be recognized on Teachers’ Day. 

In 2017, the VI Board of Education voted to accept an objective selection process that aligned with its jurisdiction, authority, and responsibility of the professional staff. The vote was five (5) yeas, one (1) nay, and three (3) absent. The Virgin Islands Board of Education held its first recognition ceremony for a Teacher of the Year, St. Croix, and a Teacher of the Year, St. Thomas-St. John on May 4, 2018. The event was praised and positively reported by local newspapers. 

The Virgin Islands Board of Education has failed to continue the implementation of Teachers’ Day as enacted by the VIC. The Professional Staff Certification & Higher Education personnel performed diligence to facilitate the selection for the VIBE 2019 Teachers of the Year. Selections were made, and prizes were purchased, but the present VIBE officers declared there shall be no recognition of VIBE Teachers of the Year because the three officers object to the process that was established. In 2017 when the item was voted on, two of the present officers were absent, and the third voted nay on the item.

Teachers do a yeoman’s job for our students. Happy Teachers’ Day to all teachers!

Submitted on Friday by Mary Moorhead, member of the Virgin Islands Board of Education