A drama teacher will be centre stage for the Bermuda Union of Teachers for the whole of the new school year.

The BUT executive said that Nishanthi Bailey, who teaches at Dellwood Middle School in Pembroke, had become full-time president of the union.

A letter sent to members last week said: “This is a very auspicious development, as having a full-time president will add considerable gravitas to the union’s commitment to ensure authentic, consistent collaboration between stakeholders in the interest of you members.

“This time of uncertainty and unease is worrying for us all, and with our president putting all of her considerable energy into representing us as we move towards Plan 2022, and navigate the many unexpected pitfalls of a Covid-19-dominated era, our best interests will be in very safe hands.”

Ms Bailey became the BUT president last October, replacing Shannon James.

Mike Charles, the general secretary of the BUT, said in the letter that Ms Bailey was “not the first full-time officer, and I am certain she will not be the last”.

The letter was forwarded to The Royal Gazette by a teacher who queried how a government employee could be seconded to a non-government organisation.

But Mr Charles explained: “This is nothing new. I was even seconded.”

He said that the BUT repaid the Government for Ms Bailey’s pay, which meant “we pay her salary — it’s not the Government”.

Mr Charles said it was time the BUT had a full-time president because there were a lot of problems that needed to be tackled.