After a combined 132 years of service, five dedicated Department of Education staff members retired this year.
The retirees, who include teaching, student support services and maintenance staff, were honoured in a formal ceremony at the Anguilla Great House on 12 December.
In a press release, a department spokesperson expressed gratitude for their commitment and contribution, and highlighted the individual achievements of each retiree.
Former maintenance officer Russel Webster worked for the department from 2017 to 2024.
He joined when the Maintenance Unit was only a two-person team responsible for the upkeep of Anguilla’s six public primary schools and other educational facilities.
His dependability, strong work ethic and diverse technical skills made him an asset, the press release said.
Franklin Brandon was a technical teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and worked for the Department of Education from 2001 to 2024.
He taught industrial technology, building and furniture and was consistently associated with high quality student output.
Brandon also contributed more broadly to the school community and is known equally for having planted fruit-bearing trees on Campus A prior to Hurricane Irma.
He also accepted the responsibility of staff sponsor of the school’s Literary and Debating Society and acted as chaperone for regional competitions.
Samuel Daniel was head of the school’s Counselling Department and worked for the Department of Education from 1992 to 2024.
He started his career with department as a certificated teacher, going on to take up the role of head of the Special Needs Department in 1997 and later, head of the Counselling Department in 2004.
Daniel launched several programmes designed to aid the optimal development of students including the AMEN, Virtuous Woman Seminar and Voices Seminars.
He has taught in primary and secondary teacher training programmes.
Daniel also provides private counselling services, and is the spiritual leader of the Church of God of Prophecy in Anguilla.
In 2024, he was consecrated and installed as the Church of God of Prophecy, Regional Bishop of the Leeward Islands, Dominica and French West Indies.
Colin Johnson, was a graduate teacher in the school’s Modern Languages Department, working for the Department of Education from 1990 to 2024.
He began teaching at Orealia Kelly Primary School where he immersed himself in the classroom as well as extra-curricular activities, founding the All-o’We Young Theatre Players.
Johnson then moved to Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in 2001 to enhance the Modern Languages Department.
In addition to teaching, he continued to engage in the co-curricular life of his students, such as the
New Young Progressive Debaters, the Modern Languages Club and the Literary and Debating
Society.
He is one of the chief house leaders of Yellow House.
Johnson continues to tutor French and Spanish at primary, secondary and tertiary level and coaches and mentors adult and youth football teams.
Lennox Vanterpool was a graduate teacher of music, and worked for the Department of Education from 1986 to 2024.
He was first assigned to Morris Vanterpool Primary School as an un-certificated teacher.
By 1996 he had achieved the position of graduate teacher working at secondary level as well as at the primary schools.
Vanterpool worked to ensure the advancement of the music programmes throughout the education
system including the development of school ensembles – the Boys Choir and the ALHCS Concert Band.
He was also a pioneer in the delivery of CXC CSEC Music at the ALHCS and served for several years as
an assistant examiner for this subject.
He is an advocate for the enhancement of student outcomes, publishing and providing leadership for educational review activities, the press release said.
Vanterpool is also active in the broader community as Principal of Morlen’s School of Music and in his leadership of the St Augustine Chorale.
