Tajuana Dean knew that she wanted to be a teacher when she was still in primary school. Voted this year’s Teacher Of The Year by the Bermuda Union of Teachers,

Mrs. Dean said she was inspired by her form room teacher at Purvis Primary when she was seven years old.

“My P2 teacher, Mrs. Betty James was always so kind and compassionate towards her students,” said Mrs. Dean.

“By 10 years old I realised that I had a natural ability to teach my sisters, cousins, friends, and neighbours. All I ever wanted to do was to play school.”

Her interest in teaching never waned and when she left high school she opted to pursue studies in Education. She attended American International College in Massachusetts for four years graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education.

In 1997, Mrs. Dean graduated from Miami University in Ohio, with a Master of Educational Leadership degree. She’s taught most levels of primary school in Bermuda and has also served as a mentor teacher.

“I have taught primary two, four, five and six. As a mentor teacher, I assisted teachers from pre-school to senior school,” she tells The Royal Gazette.

Mrs. Dean started her teaching career at Victor Scott Primary School and spent 16 years there before changing gears and becoming a mentor teacher.

After three years she switched again making a return to primary teaching at Port Royal.

There, she is the Deputy Principal but also teaches a class. Last year she led P4 students and in September she will be teaching P5s. Mrs. Dean teaches Mathematics, Language Art, Social Studies, Science and Computer Studies.

Dedicated to her profession and her students she says she truly loves what she does and said that winning the Teacher Of The Year award was a surprise: “I felt humbled, yet excited to know that I had been recognised for my skills and dedication to the profession.”

“I like teaching because it is very satisfying, exciting, and rewarding to watch children learn and grow throughout the year.”

In fact this is precisely the reason Mrs. Dean was elected Teacher Of The Year.

A mother who felt she had seen an overwhelming difference in her son’s attitude and academic performance while he was in her primary four class in 2004, nominated her.

“I would have to agree with her. Her son had improved quite a bit in that year. I spoke with his teacher this year, and she was excited that he had continued with the positive experiences he received the past year,” adds Mrs. Dean.

Once nominated, Mrs. Dean said she had to agree to an interview with the selection committee, write an essay, and have one of her lessons observed by the selection committee.

“They were impressed with my math lesson, because I used manipulatives. The class was very interactive and fun,” she says.

Making teaching fun is one of her keys to helping her students understand and learn.

Mrs. Dean is undaunted by the worry often expressed about the public school system.

Asked how teaching can be improved locally she responds: “Teaching can be improved if there is a continued effort among the students, parents and educators to work together.

“We all must be accountable.” And while she has no clear-cut plans for the future, Mrs. Dean is committed to her craft.

“I love teaching, and I can not envision myself doing any other profession.

“Whatever the future holds for me, you can be assured that it will definitely involve teaching.”