Principal Gracia Stevens Retires After 49 Years Of service

ROADTOWN Tortola,BVI, July 12th, 2011– One year shy of 50 years of service, the Golden Jubilee, Principal Gracia Stevens retired as Principal of the Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School (ROMPS).

Mrs. Stevens presided over her final graduation ceremony last week, which was held at the North Sound Methodist Church where she is a member and local minister.

The ceremony drew several members from the community including Premier and Representative for the Ninth District Honorable Ralph T. O’Neal, Minister of Education and Culture Honourable Andrew Fahie and Territorial At-Large Representatives Honourable Dr. D. Orlando Smith and Honourable Irene Penn-O’Neal.

 Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal described Mrs. Stevens’ contribution as a “mammoth job done here in Virgin Gorda” and said that he expected to be invited back soon for a lunch or dinner to honour the long-serving educator.

Minister of Education and Culture Honourable Andrew Fahie thanked Mrs. Stevens for her service to the education system and the Virgin Gorda community.

“She has helped to move the education system from good to great”, he said, “and I want the new principal to do the same”. His remarks were made before presenting her a laptop with which he hoped she would use to write her sermons.

In her principal’s remarks Mrs. Stevens recalled for the audience that she had retired before in 2002 as an educator, but was asked to come back and was “delighted to lend her services again”. She described her final retirement as bitter sweet and told the audience that as a teacher and principal she had “given time, talent, service, sweat and sometimes tears" to the school. She also encouraged the staff to be cooperative with her successor.

Minister Fahie’s gift presentation was the first of many, as members of the community, staff and students presented gifts, tokens, money and flowers to the principal and to the school.
Mrs. Stevens said that she was looking forward to devoting her time to the church and her family while in retirement.

Mrs. Stevens joined the public service on September 24, 1960 at the age of 16 years old. She retired on September 1, 2002 but was returned to her position the following year. She has served as a principal since 1978.

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