WENTWORTH LIVINGSTON GABBIDON

PERSONAL

Place of Birth : Welcome, St. Ann
Marital Status : Married (with 2 children)

EMPLOYMENT RECORD
1976-89 Teacher, Lalor Primary School, St. Elizabeth
(Acted as Principal on three (3) occasions
1990-2000 Teacher, Hatfield Primary & Junior High School, Manchester
1991-93 Acting Principal - On Secondment
Huntley All Age School, Manchester

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
Principal, Pike All Age School, Manchester


ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

2001-02 Nova Southeastern University-Florida
M.Sc. ( Teaching and Learning) pending

1996-98 University of the West Indies (Mona)
B.Ed. (Hon.) - Educational Administration

1993-95 University of the West Indies - Mona via UWIDITE
Cert. Ed. in Education Management & Supervision

1988-89 Church Teachers' College
Trained Teacher Diploma (Credit)

1981-83 Mico Teachers' College
Trained Teacher Certificate (Credit)

1961-62; 67-70 Clydesdale All Age School
Jamaica School Certificate

1963-66 Frankfield Primary School Clarendon

Other Professional Programmes

1983 Temple University Summer Programme Mathematics education

1992 Ministry of Education and Culture Course in Strategic Management

1993-94 Ministry of Education & Culture R.O.S.E. Programme for teachers
in Resource and Technology, Science, Mathematics

1995 Maryland University Summer Programme in Spanish Education

2000-01 JTA HEART/NTA Computer Course

JTA INVOLVEMENT

Contact Teacher
1990- Present Member, General Council
1991-Present Member, Central Executive
Member of Resolutions, Salaries & Conditions of Service, Education and Research, Sports, Professional Advancement and Teacher Welfare Committees
Chairman, Membership Committee
Chairman, Credentials Committee
1990-Present Member, JTA South Central Regional Executive
Several Parish and District Association Committees
Delegate to Annual Conference
1991-92;98-99 President, Manchester Parish Association
1990-91 President, West Manchester District Association
1995-96 President, West Central Manchester District Association
1992-93 Chairman, Parish Membership Committee
1993-95 Treasurer, West Central Manchester District Association
Study Circle Convenor

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

2001-Present President, South Middlesex Area Council United Church Teachers' Association
2001-Present Public Relations Officer,, North Manchester Principals' Association
Member, Manchester Principals' Association
200-Present Member, Supervisory Committee, JTA Cooperative Credit Union Limited
Member, Manchester Parish Development Committee
1994-97;2000 Member, Congregational Board Ebenezer United Church
Member, Scholarship and Awards Committee Ebenezer United Church
1992-96 Youth Advisor, Ebenezer United Church
1994-94 Public Relatioins Officer, Hatfield Primary & Junior High School
1995-96 Secretary, Berry Hill-Meadsfield Community Council
1997-98 Student Representative - School of Education, U.W.I
1988-89 Batch Representative to Student Council Church Teachers' College
1977-80 President, Flames United Youth Club
1979-80 President, North West Manchester Youth Club Council
1980-81 President, Manchester Senior Members' Council
1979-81 Treasurer Oxford Community Council

AWARDS

1978 Social Development Commission Certificate for Outstanding Youth Club Leadership
1993 JTA R.C. Tavares Award for Outstanding Service
1997 JTA Wesley Powell Scholarship
1997 JTA Cooperative Credit Union Teacherrs' Bursary to U.W.I.
1998 U.W.I. Certificate for Outstanding Performance in Leadership
1999 Ebenezer All Age School Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education
2000 JTA South Central Region Contact Teachers' Award
2000 JTA W.B.C. "Ben" Hawthorne Award for Outstanding Service to JTA
Education and Community Development

GOALS AS PRESIDENT

1. To continue to agitate for better salaries and conditions of service for all teachers
including the maintenance of an equitable relationship with the salaries and benefits of other public sector workers.

2. To expand programmes to assist teachers in their pursuit of academic and
professional development.

3. To expand the role of the JTA Institute of Professional Development in the professional development of teachers by seeking to collaborate with the MOEYC to provide additional funds for training programmes.

4. To ensure that the minimum standards for acceptable performance in all educational institutions are established and maintained.

5. To advocate for the provision of substitute teachers in schools when extended absences are created by teachers having to attend workshops/seminars.

6. To continue to press for the provision of clerical assistants in all schools.

7. To advocate for the appointment of vice principals in all educational institutions.

8. To pursue vigorously the provision of specialist teachers for visual arts, music and physical education in all schools.

9. To lobby for greater emphasis to be placed on provisions for exceptional students.