Mrs. Sandy Harrigan-Underhill is the first Director of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Institute of Education after recently being appointed to the position.
This was confirmed in a media release from the College dated Tuesday January 11.
It said that Mrs. Harrigan-Underhill in her new role will be working in sync with the Ministry of Education to advance their mandates as it relates to the education training needs of the territory.
“A primary function of the Institute will be to work closely with the Territory’s schools – both public and private – through the Ministry of Education, to obtain data that will inform decisions about the territory’s education training needs,” the release stated.
It added, “In her role as Director, Mrs. Harrigan-Underhill will also serve as an ambassador for Education Training locally, regionally, and internationally. She will be responsible for garnering support for the Institute that will build strong partnerships in advancing the vision of the Institute; and lead the facilitation of training in education that is research driven, innovative, and reflect current best practices in education.”
Speaking on her appointment she said, “An important part of my role as Director is to ensure that the goals of the Education Institute align with standards established by CARICOM Standards for the Teaching Profession, OECS Educator Sector Strategy, and UNESCO Strategy on Teachers.”
She continued, “As we strive to create a world class education system with the highest qualified educators, the Institute will ensure that regional and global standards are recognised as our benchmark in achieving our vision of excellence.”
An outstanding choice
Also speaking on the appointment was President of the College, Dr. Richard Georges who referred to the new director as the perfect fit for the job.
He said, “I’m delighted to welcome Mrs. Harrigan-Underhill to HLSCC. She is an outstanding choice as the first Director of our new Institute of Education, bringing a wealth of experience from leadership roles at the Territory’s largest secondary school, and experience in the sector both local and internationally.”
“In addition to her educational training and experience, her background in law and organisational management as well as a proven track record of leadership will support both the College and the teaching service in our work to improve lives through education,” Dr. Georges added.
Qualifications
Mrs. Harrigan-Underhill has more than 27 years of experience in education and 10 years of experience in progressive leadership positions.
She has experience with Business Change Management Consulting to include policy implementation, human capital, and systems development. In addition, she is highly experienced in curriculum planning and development as well as instruction at various levels including tertiary.
Prior to her appointment as Director, Mrs. Harrigan-Underhill served as the Principal for the Elmore Stoutt High School from 2014-2019.