Breaking barriers at Calabar High

Sian-Mahay Wilson’s landmark appointment as the first female principal of the 112-year-old all-boys Calabar High School is the culmination of 29 years of hard work and dedication.

In September 1995, Wilson first stepped through the gates of the St Andrew-based school after freshly completing her bachelor’s degree from the Church Teachers’ College with the intention of only staying for two years.

But fate would not have it. Throughout the years, she would take on various leadership roles until her crowning moment on July 1, 2024, after acting in the post of principal for roughly a year.

“I am a person who has a passion for teaching, passion for administration. It has long been a focal point of my enthusiasm and dedication to mould young minds, mentor, teach, and to date, I’ve had over seven years of administrative experience.

“I started as grade 10 supervisor from 2005, and then in 2016, I became vice-principal and then acting principal [last year] to be appointed now,” Wilson told The Gleaner in an interview on Thursday.

“So I’ve been in administration at different levels for a while, so I have long wanted to serve in a collaborative environment, an environment that is healthy, and an environment that is supportive, an environment that is focused on holistic development of both staff and students,” she said.

Wilson’s love for Calabar High School started when she was a student at Ardenne High School in the 1980s. She remembered going to Calabar for Key Club joint meetings and community projects.

“Ever since I’ve been at Ardenne High School, I’ve always been a Calabar girl. Always. Quite a number of the Calabar old boys are my contemporaries. Being at Ardenne and living in the Kingston 20 area, quite a number of them went to Calabar, and [with me] going to Boys’ Champs from back in the day, or any other sporting activity, I’d be a Calabar supporter,” Wilson told The Gleaner.

“I remember the days of Champs when we used to sit under the Air Jamaica sign and we’d watch the races with the persons carrying the green and black flag in the sporting arena. So I’ve always supported Calabar,” she said.

Wilson also recalled swimming in Calabar’s pool back in the day when she visited the institution for socials after executing joint community projects. That pool is now an eyesore.

“I was a little disappointed when I came to Calabar in 1995 and saw that the pool was no longer up and running and functioning,” she said.

APPLIED AFTER SECOND CALL

When the post of principal became vacant last year, Wilson – who had been serving as vice-principal since 2011 – said she was not interested at first. But when the job was advertised a second time, she decided to apply because Calabar had always afforded her, especially as a young teacher and subsequent administrator, the autonomy to be creative and to implement programmes and policies.

“When I was vice-principal, [for example], I was very instrumental in making the grade nine classes smaller. When the classes [from grade eight] come over to grade nine, the classes are so large, and at that age, they are so distracted, and it’s difficult for the teachers, and I wondered to myself, ‘How is it that I could make this a little bit better?’” she told The Gleaner.

“I couldn’t do it for every subject because some departments are larger than others, but we were able to implement a system where we had two classes to three teachers, so that, ultimately, made some of the class sizes smaller,” Wilson said.

She said that her creative drive was supported through opportunities presented through other seniors who previously, had served up to the vice-principal level, including Audrey Frater, Janet Manning, and Dr Jennifer Gordon, who was the first woman to act as principal in the 2008-09 academic year, but unfortunately, died in office.

It was Gordon who tasked her with crafting an evaluation system for the school, which, to date, is still being used.

Wilson has also managed and initiated the school’s calendar of activities; the teachers’ calendar of activities; the process of substituting teachers; created canteen duties; implemented and coordinated the teachers’ rosters for the late students initiative; managed teachers’ co-curricular committees; managed registration for Caribbean Examinations Council examinations; assisted with academic staff recruitment, coaching, and training; created form letters that are still used to communicate with parents; and programmes, some of which are still in place.

At one point, Wilson was the staff representative to the board, staff planner, and social planner, among other roles at the Baptist school.

Noting that she accepts that change and its constant nature and that adaptability and lifelong learning are imperatives for a developing professional, Wilson said an efficient time-management system, competent leadership and administrative skills, being a team player, and having valuable interpersonal skills are key components of her leadership approach.

Wilson believes in being courageous when protecting the mission of any organisation she serves and being loyal to its cause. As for Calabar, she is absolutely committed to the school’s philosophy, values, goals, and continued transformation.

Her mantra for this new academic year is ‘Learn with Passion, Succeed on Purpose’.

“We want to reignite that passion about doing well, and so as a result of reigniting that passion, then it means that success is going to follow. So that is where we are. What we ask for as school’s leadership is for all the support that we can get,” she said.

NO MALICE

Despite several objections to her potential confirmation as principal, Wilson stated that she holds no grievances against her critics, emphasising that she worked diligently for the appointment.

She said it was deeply painful to hear negative comments from certain groups about her and her leadership abilities. She managed the situation by focusing on positive thoughts and avoiding reading social media stories and comments about herself.

Wilson said the Calabar Old Boys’ Association has pledged its support.

“They have always been extremely supportive of the school in every single way, from infrastructure to scholarships, to welfare programmes, to sports, to other academic initiatives. They have been driving a lot of it, and they have pledged to continue,” she told The Gleaner.

“The parents have also pledged their support in any way that they can. Many have come forward to ask what it is that they can do, especially some of our newest parents ... and they are already galvanising themselves to assist,” she said.

Although some critics have charged that no woman should have been appointed to lead a boys’ school, especially one with an anthem that speaks to male dominance with the line ‘Here, Sir!’ repeated in the chorus, Wilson said the boys will be taught as men, not only because she is a female leader.

She said that many fathers have also stepped forward, committing to assist the administration in managing the affairs since the start of school on Monday morning.

“Calabar mentorship is also back on board. They are set to start towards the middle or the end of September, so Calabar is open for business. We are 112 years strong, and we are continuing to move in that direction: ‘The Utmost for the Highest’.

“It will never be ‘Here, Madam’. It will always be, ‘Here, Sir!’” she said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com