SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Four primary schools are bidding farewell to their School Managers (SMs) and Adjunct School Managers (ASMs) at the closing of this school year. The four women with a love of teaching have each had long careers in education, would chose the same career again if given the chance, and are contemplating what to do next.

SM Merlese Lake will be leaving the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School as Melinda Thomas-Lake steps into the role and Clara George steps up as the new ASM.

SM Malva Brooks-Brill is leaving Prins Willem Alexander School (PWAS), ASM Lucia Kroon the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, and ASM Olivia Jacobs the Oranje school.

The three latter public schools were not notified as yet, when contacted by The Daily Herald, who the replacements would be by the Division of Public Education (DPE).

In the case of Kroon, she hopes that she herself will be able to stay. She said that she has put in an extension request, after leaving because of reaching her retirement, and is currently waiting to hear back from DPE.

"I am officially retiring, but if I'm called back I will continue," said Kroon, who has been with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School for 35 years and working in education for 37. She has been ASM for three years, and was previously an assistant principal and a teacher. Ideally, she would like to continue for another two-to-three years.

"It's in God's hands," and if the extension is not granted, she is still saying goodbye with a good feeling, she said in an invited comment. Nothing specific has been planned for the future otherwise, but she says she would like to stay active, especially in working with her hands.

Lake has been with SDA School since it was first established in St. Maarten some 20 years ago, and has worked in education for 40 years.

She is leaving on reaching retirement age, and after having worked with incoming SM Thomas-Lake for two years for a smooth transition into the post. Thomas-Lake had also worked with the school prior to completing her studies. SM Lake was also pleased to share that the incoming ASM George is a former SDA pupil that she had worked with.

Prior to working at SDA, Lake held teaching and school managing positions at St. Imelda Kindergarten, Methodist Kindergarten in St. Eustatius, St. Joseph Primary School, Sr. Marie Laurence School, and Marie Genevieve de Weever School.

She says that she has worked hard and definitely enjoyed her career in education, where she could work with her love for children and see them grow. If she could do it again, she would choose the same path.

Being a teacher is "the best profession, I encourage people to become teachers, you're doing a service and giving to the community when you teach." Those who are "real teachers" do not end up quitting education, she added, even if they "transition between different functions" in education, they continue.

She is set to enjoy retirement for the time being, and then plans to work with children again in the future.

Jacobs of Oranje School has worked in education for 29 years, and is not sure of what lies ahead. The reason for departure was somewhat unclear during a brief phone call, but when prompted to reflect, Jacobs said that many things had changed in the education system, some for the better and some for the worse.

"Working in the education system is beautiful," she said, and reflected on fun "days to remember" especially during her career as a kindergarten principal.

However, she now feels that classroom fun is not there as it was before, and that teaching has become more limited. She took having fewer excursions as an example, saying that the children do better if they experience things by seeing, touching and feeling.

The lack of this stimulation can be seen in the children as early as second and third grade. It is just how she feels, she said, "others don't have to agree."

Brooks-Brill of PWAS could not be reached for an interview, but told this newspaper at the school's graduation ceremony that she was retiring after teaching at PWAS for 17 years, and that her education career spanned over 30 years. At the ceremony, Head of DPE Glenderlin Davis-Holiday called her "a driving force in special education."