JTA to choose president-elect

THE 22,000 members of the Jamaica Teachers' Association are expected to decide this week who will become the next president-elect of their union.

Educators, among them full-time and retired members of the association, will vote for the candidate of their choice between today, June 18 and Friday.

Voting will take place in schools, with the JTA's contact teachers serving as presiding officers.

A president-elect is chosen annually and serves a year in that position before assuming the presidency.

This year, the two candidates vying to eventually replace JTA president, Judith Spencer-Jarrett, are Sadie E. Comrie, Guidance Counsellor at Lewisville High School in St. Elizabeth and Evelyn Gyles, Principal of Shortwood Primary and Junior High School, St. Andrew.

Mrs. Comrie, who has been active in the JTA since 1982, has served in various capacities including as a JTA conference delegate, general council and central executive representative, president of the St. Elizabeth Parish Assoc-iation and chairperson of the International Relations Commi-ttee.

A graduate of Bethlehem Teachers' College, Mount St. Vincent University in Canada and the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Mrs. Comrie's dedication has earned her numerous awards including the JTA's R.C. Tavares Award, the W.B.C. Ben Hawthorne Award and the Lararforbundet Award for membership education.

Mrs. Gyles is also an award winner, copping the JTA's R.C. Tavares Award, the JTA's Edith Dalton-James Award and the LASCO Teacher of the Year Award.

She is a graduate of Shortwood Teachers' College and has a Bachelor of Education degree from the UWI. Mrs. Gyles has also been a member of the JTA since 1973 and has served in various capacities including that of contact teacher; president, St. Andrew Parish Association; chairperson of the JTA Primary Com-mittee; chairperson Professional Advancement Committee; member of the General Council, and member of the Central Executive and Finance Committees.

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