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‘Simply Teacher’ is an inspirational narrative of challenge, triumph and celebration. It chronicles the life of centenarian Avis Carrington born in colonial Barbados on the 17th September 1918.
Avis was a timid, underachieving child at the elementary level. At the secondary level, and with the support of caring teachers, she evolved into a confident high school graduate. This inspired her choice of career, what she called a ‘divine calling’, and she would dedicate seventy-four years to the teaching and nurturing of children.
Disheartened by the slow pace of change in the public service, Avis founded a private primary school, ‘Merrivale’. Influenced by the Montessori methods, she transformed … the social duty of the teacher into the higher consciousness of a mission … Maria Montessori. She invested in each child, especially those who needed extra tuition, demonstrating that all children can learn and that school can be a happy place.
‘Simply Teacher’ is also a history of the development of education in Barbados, from limited funding and access, especially for girls in the colony, to government-sponsored education for all in the nation state. The foreword is by former student, The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, the first female Prime Minister of Barbados.
Months after celebrating her centenary, Avis rose to national prominence. In November 2018, she received Barbados’ highest national award, Dame of St Andrew, for her contribution to early childhood and primary education in Barbados. For all of her accomplishments, when asked how she would like to be remembered, she responded humbly and without hesitation, ‘Simply Teacher’.
The story of Dame Avis Carrington restores the teaching profession to its status as the noblest of professions.
