Yvonne Rodney MRS. YVONNE Rodney has been teaching at Rousseau Primary School since September 1986. She is one of the four Master Teachers in Region 1, St. Andrew. To qualify, teachers must have given many years to the profession with notable successes but want to stay in the classroom and not go into administration.
"Teaching was not my first choice as a profession when I was a child," she told The Gleaner. "I wanted to become a nurse, but I was touched by the interest that the teachers at Oracabessa Primary School took in me. One teacher in particular, Mrs. Norma Brown, my grade six teacher, made a great impression on me and I decided to pass on that interest and caring to other children, so I became a teacher."
Today the compassion she has for children is demonstrated not only in the classroom where she teaches all subjects but also in the Sandy Park Seventh Day Adventist Church where she worships. She is the Education Director and Assistant Family Life Director at the church and has put out a great deal of effort to help children learn to read the Bible.
Mrs. Rodney grew up in St. Mary after spending her formative years at Oracabessa Primary School she went on to Marymount High School. At age 17 she entered St. Joseph's Teachers College and left that institution in 1986. She recalls that Dr. Nadine Scott was particularly helpful to her while she was a student at the college and helped her to build confidence in her ability.
Between 1991 and 1995 she completed the Arts and General Studies course (studying for three years part-time and one year full time) at the University of the West Indies where she majored in English. "Once again there was someone who helped me along the way. It was Dr. Victor Chang who encouraged me to reach my goals," she said.
"I teach all subjects at Rousseau Primary," she said. "It has been a good experience - challenging - but good! I entered teaching not for the money but for the love of the children. The school is in a depressed area so I make an effort to develop a positive attitude in the youngsters and challenge them to set goals."
Mrs. Rodney is Cub Scout leader and the position has given her the opportunity to have a positive influence on the boys, many of whom look up to her as a mother. In her capacity as youth leader, she liaises with the parents and encourages them to instil good principles in their children.
She is the mother of an eight-year old son Donald Junior. She acknowledges the help and goodness of God in her life and admits: "Nothing that I have achieved has been without God's help. As children we were brought up to trust God."
How does she cope with the many difficult times in the classroom? She tries to avoid confrontation. "I reason with the children and have dialogue with them," she said. She added that she prays when the really knotty problems present themselves. "The children knows this, and I have heard some say 'Miss gone to pray' when I leave the room sometimes."
Mrs. Rodney, whose younger brother is Jamaican 400-metre sprinter Danny McFarlane, is blessed with a supportive family. Her husband, Donald Rodney Snr. is a tower of strength and it was he who encouraged her to apply for Master Teacher status after seeing the published criteria. He, along with her mother and sister, always support her in her efforts to contribute to education in Jamaica. With this encouragement, she feels empowered to give many more years to training young Jamaicans.
