“I love being an educator; the joy I experience is indescribable,” Donelle Phillips

Teachers play an extraordinary part in our lives. They are the people who educate society and impart their knowledge upon impressionable years. 

Teachers matter in so many different ways. They are the reason why we have engineers, doctors, pilots, and many more professionals scattering all over the world. But the love for teaching has been engrained in the being of Donelle Darcia Phillips despite the profession not being her first choice. 

Donelle was born on the 4th October 1994 at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to Marcia Valladares-Phillips and Lyndon Phillips. She grew up in the historical village of Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) with her two siblings. 

Reminiscing on her time growing up, Donelle said that it was fun for her as her family had a little garden which consisted of cows and chickens. She said that she and her siblings were tasked with taking care of the animals because her parents felt it would help them be responsible. 

Life was so simple and peaceful, and back then I was really close with my cousins, we did everything together. From dolly house on Sunday afternoons to church on Saturday mornings, you name it, my cousins and I were always together.

Donelle attended Hendon’s Nursery, the New Friendship Nursery, before heading over to the Friendship Primary School. She was then awarded a spot at the Annandale Secondary School. During her secondary school years, Donelle had many plans and goals to make her parents proud. 

However, on July 12, 2008, those dreams were crushed after her father died in an accident while heading up to Linden for the funeral of her mother’s uncle. Wreck and battered, the then 13-year-old took a deep breath, picked herself up, and continued where she left off. 

In 2011, Donelle wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and secured eight (8) subjects, and was placed among the top ten (10) graduating students. 

While I was growing up, I told everyone that I was going to become a teacher like my mom when I grew up; however, by the time I completed Secondary School and was exposed to the sciences, my intended career was now to become a dentist.

Shortly after graduating from secondary school, Donelle applied to the University of Guyana, but she was forced to withdraw from the programme due to financial constraints at home. 

Two days after withdrawing from UG, a close friend encouraged Donelle to apply at the Teaching Service Commission (TSC). She landed the job on the 27th of September, 2012 – seven (7) days before her 18th birthday. She is now gainfully employed at the Bladen Hall Multilateral. 

In less than a week of withdrawing from UG, I was heading to work as a teacher! What was supposed to be 1 year of working turned into more than 8 years! I’m really comfortable here.

In 2013, the young educator applied at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).  

I think the best part of CPCE was the wonderful people that I met. I was an in-service teacher, that means I taught during the day and attended classes from 4 pm to 8 pm. It was really tiring at times, but I don’t regret any part of it.

Two years later, the young teacher graduated from CPCE with an Associate Degree in Education. In 2018, she graduated from the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama with a Diploma in Theatre Arts and Drama. 

My drama group of which I’m the President, Won a National Youth award in 2017 for the work we would have done with the youths.

She also completed her Bachelor of Education of Education (Secondary) – Mathematics this year. The 26-year-old Mathematics and Science teacher said that she could not find a more rewarding career than being an educator. 

I definitely do. I don’t think I can find a more rewarding career. I love being an educator. The joy I experience is indescribable. Apart from Mathematics and Science, I’ve also taught Food and Nutrition, Clothing and Textiles and Home Economics Management before I completed CPCE.

With increased violence against teachers, Miss Phillips said that this doesn’t deter her one bit. 

It definitely doesn’t because I don’t think that there’s ever going to be a time where I would allow an issue between myself and a student to get so bad that it would result in violence. I have faith that in the near future, the Ministry of Education would be able to put systems in place to prevent these things from happening.

Donelle credits her success to her mother, whom she said has been her pillar of strength. 

I always tell her, I’m forever indebted to her, and she probably thinks this is just talks, but that woman is such a strong and virtuous, prayerful woman. Her Christian values and standards have helped her to mold me into the individual that I am today. All that I am and all that I hope to be, I owe to my mother.

Donelle hopes to complete her Master of Arts in Education in a few years. Also, she is looking forward to spending some time performing, as Theater Arts is important to her. She is also hoping that in the next few years, the classrooms in Guyana will be transformed into state-of-the-art classrooms where educators will be incorporating technology into their lessons.