The first students to complete the Instructional Leadership Doctoral Programme in Bermuda received their diplomas from St. John's University School of Education recently.

"These eight doctoral graduates represent the first educators in Bermuda to earn their doctorates in that nation and they didn't have to leave their families or jobs behind to study abroad," said Dr. Rita Dunn, professor, administrative and Instructional Leadership at St. John's.

"Their graduation fulfils the St. John's University mission of providing advanced education to qualified persons who wouldn't otherwise have had such an opportunity."

The eight students who completed the programme were Derek Tully, Melvyn Bassett, Stanley Roberts, Shangri-La Durham Thompson, Sharon Parris, Charlotte Ming, Dena Lister and Glenn E. Biscom.

The graduates from the programme represented members of the Ministry of Education, faculty at Bermuda College, directors of the Bermuda Learning-Style Research and Staff-Development Centre, principals and secondary teachers.

The St. John's University School of Education initiated its Instructional Leadership Doctoral Programme in the summer of 1997 at the invitation of members of the Ministry of Education, the Bermuda Education Association and Bermuda College Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership.

The required courses are taught by St. John's University professors including Dr. Dunn and others, who travel to Bermuda. Students also participate in one online course and attend one or more summer sessions at the Queen's, New York campus.

Since the inception, at least two middle school and primary schools have introduced the "learning-style strategies" through their staff.