Kirlew McDonald inspires community through education and service
Published:Saturday | December 30, 2023 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/ Senior Gleaner Writer
Kirlew McDonald is an extraordinary educator who is not just passionate about his job, but also about the well-being of his students. His philosophy is that every child can be guided to success through dedication and hard work, and he is resolute that he can help his students to be successful.
Being a great teacher, he said, is an opportunity to help a nation grow. He believes that each child within the community has the ability to succeed as long as they are given the opportunity and are constantly being encouraged to put out their best.
“There is a Spanish phrase that says, “en lugar de padres”, which means, “in place of parents”. A classroom should not always be about books, but a place where student pour out their ideas while on their journey to be successful by helping them with real-life situation, expected behaviour, moral and values that these students need,” McDonald told GoodHeart.
Children from the community that he works in have benefitted from his intervention programmes. “I do not just see myself as a teacher, but a mentor. Helping children to chart the course of their lives and with that thinking I have helped many children through, being prepared for their examinations and making better choice in moving forward in life,” McDonald said.
For the past few years, McDonald has taken on an additional role as a grade coordinator to further enhance the school’s educational programme and cater to the individual needs of every child. He conducts extra classes for his students, both online and in person, free of charge, outside of regular work hours. Moreover, he dedicates his weekends to volunteering and assisting students in completing their SBAs, a commitment he upholds annually.
His latest initiatives include establishing a homework programme, launching a tree-planting initiative, and organising an “eat what you grow” activity. These efforts aim to foster students’ appreciation for agriculture, encouraging them to recognise their role in the movement to contribute to feeding the nation.
McDonald was chosen as one of the JWN Foundation’s Community Heroes, nominated for his dedication and support towards nation-building.
“It feels empowering and it gives me hope. It shows that other persons out there are not only thinking of themselves, but thinking of others,” he began, continuing, “It is a good initiative to highlight those who do good within their area and it gives hope to persons in society, which show that we as a nation can do better by how we interact with each other. This might seem small, but this initiative by JWN can create a ripple effect which helps to move the community forward and promote togetherness among the people.”
McDonald was a bit surprised by the recognition, but felt appreciated for his hard work. He shared his determination to explore additional avenues to engage more children and to strengthen connections between younger and older generations. His ultimate aim is to encourage their active participation in the ongoing process of improving their communities.