Crabbe and Selwood confirmed to top education posts
Orlandette Crabbe has been officially confirmed as Chief Education Officer (CEO) in the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports’, effective June 2024.
Her appointment follows a period of acting in the role.
Crabbe will lead the Department of Education, managing its administration and ensuring high standards in education across the territory. She is also responsible for advising the Minister, supervising all schools, and guiding educational planning and development.
Crabbe has taught at Belle Vue Primary School, Althea Scatliffe Primary School, and Ingleside Elementary in Norfolk, Virginia. She was also Assistant Principal at Althea Scatliffe and Principal of Joyce Samuel Primary School. Additionally, she lectured at H Lavity Stoutt Community College for one year.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Preschool, Pre-K and Primary Education from Florida A&M University and a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Florida State University.
Commenting on her appointment, Permanent Secretary Dr Marcia Potter said, “Education is the bedrock of any successful nation. Mrs Crabbe has an extensive history of excellence within the Public Service, and we are excited at the opportunity for her to continue this progress as the Chief Education Officer. This is a critical role with functions that play a key role in developing the minds of our students and future leaders. I wish her every success,” Dr Potter stated.
Also confirmed was Heida Selwood as Deputy Chief Education Officer, effective June 2024. Like Crabbe, she previously served in an acting capacity.
Selwood supports the overall management of the Department of Education and ensures that schools follow policy and procedure. She also monitors the administration, inventories and student admissions across Virgin Islands schools.
Selwood previously taught at Bregado Flax Educational Centre, where she also served as Head of Department and Acting Assistant Principal. She later served as an Education Officer for around seven years before acting as Deputy Chief.
“Heida Selwood brings a wealth of valuable experience to this role and I am confident that she will continue to deliver in the role of Deputy Chief Education Officer,” Dr Potter said.
Selwood holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Andrews University, a Teacher Education Diploma, and a Master of Science in Management and Educational Leadership from the University of the West Indies.
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Selwood with the post graduate qualification in educational leadership and active experience in an educational administrative role will be deputizing to an over qualified primary school teacher??
WoW!!
POLOITICS!!!!!
Congratulations Ladies!
Brings back horrific memories of how our own oppress and persecute our own in favor of other non belongers.
When we see them come with nothing, taken in, supported and uplifted from the ground up by our own and already established outside expats.
When you live long enough to live the through horor of it all to see of evil vs good.
When you a local was kicked aside and denied oppotunities, in favor of non local, there is what it looks like.
When the expat get first preference over the local, this is when it hurst the most.
Selwood should really be CEO from reading this news story.
Congratulations, Mrs. Selwood. You deserve this promotion. You’re a hard-working,fair and respectful person. You are a good Christian with a great personality. Continue to be the awesome person that you are. Don’t let position change you.
Please don’t change and become like your boss.
We need more leaders like Mrs. Selwood.
People will never forget how you made them feel.
Congratulations to both. Special congratulations to Ms. Crabbe whom I came in contact for work on occasions, very disciplined and serious about the children’s wellbeing.
I just hope that Mrs. Crabbe will keep it professional in this role. I hope that she will be respectful, understanding and fair. I hope that she will look out for all teachers and not just her friends and family. I hope that she would be mindful of how she speaks to professionals and not come over as a bully. I hope that this position will bring out the best in Mrs. Crabbe. Teaching is already a thankless job. Teachers can’t have the frustration of leaders who only care or look out for a certain few. It’s time that educators feel seen and heard. It’s time that whether an educator is from here or not, a friend or not that respect is served both ways.