Nursery educator and school principal, Phyllis Sproston, is a ‘Special Person’

Jul 03, 2022 News, Special Person

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Shaping the academic foundation of young children for over two decades…

“I am like a second mommy to those who require mommy attention, a nurse to those who would come not feeling well or may fall and get a bruise or scratch, and a counsellor to both parents and children who may come with family and other issues.”

By Rehanna Ramsay

Kaieteur News – On any given day, a teacher plays several roles in the life of their students. This is how Mrs. Phyllis Sproston, a teacher and current school principal, described the role she occupied for over two decades.

She told The Waterfalls that teachers are at their core, the best humanitarians. According to her, the service, teachers provide to society cannot be easily overlooked as they build the foundation of what the next generation of professionals and non-professionals will be. Sproston is of the view that teachers, particularly nursery school teachers, are the bedrock of society.

“[They] get to build the foundation of a child. “If they leave [nursery school] without a proper foundation, they may struggle through the other levels of education,” she stated.This week’s ‘Special Person’ has many community roles and an ultimate objective of helping people alleviate some of their mental struggles.
As such, in addition to her credentials as a teacher, Sproston is pursuing a Master of Arts in Psychology.

Besides this, she is a strong believer in her Christian faith, an adoring wife to her husband of 26 years, and a mother to their six children.

FORMATIVE YEARS
Born Phyllis Minerva Carletta Toney to parents, Phillip and Merlyn Toney on April 9, 1975 at the Georgetown Hospital, this week’s ‘Special Person’ spent her childhood living on the West Bank of Demerara.

She lived with both parents and can vividly remember when the family lived in Old Road, La Grange.
Reminiscent of her childhood, Sproston described growing up on the West Bank as “fun and exciting.”

Sharing a few details of her formative years, the teacher recalled that when she was about the age of five, she would go for morning walks with her father, who was a police officer, and her then baby brother, Phillip, across the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

“I also remember going across the road into the crab bush with my cousin to catch crab. I enjoyed playing and listening to cricket being played…I was always locked to the radio whenever the West Indies were playing,” she said.

The young Sproston attended the Vreed-en-Hoop Nursery, Nismes Primary School, and Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School where she wrote the Common Entrance Examination and was awarded a place at the Leonora Secondary.

Upon the request of her mother, she was placed at the West Demerara Secondary School which was within walking distance from Phoenix Park where the family was living at that time.

But just as she entered her final year of high school, the family moved to Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

The move affected the teenage Sproston in a negative way, so much so that her grade started to decline.

She admitted, “I did not do well at the CXC exam. After writing the CXC exam in 1991, I didn’t know what career path to choose because the grades I got could not get me into the ‘law’ path I wanted.”

However, after encouragement from her mother, (who was a teacher for 33 years) and a close family friend, Ms. Corinne Inniss, she joined the profession. Her first job was at the Soesdyke No. 2 Nursery School.

She revealed that her intention was to work until December of the said year and move on to another job but she made a strong connection with her students.
Sproston said, “I did not move on because the children and I immediately bonded and then I knew I wanted to stay.”

To qualify herself in the field, Sproston decided to join the Teachers Upgrading class and entered the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). This would aid in her becoming a trained teacher.
Sproston explained that the same year, she met and married Mr. Gershon Sproston on December 21, 1996. Their union bore six children – three boys, and three girls.

“I started Cyril Potter College of Education and graduated in 1998 with a Trained Teachers certificate. I later furthered my studies at the University of Guyana where I graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education Administration,” she said.
Over the years, Sproston steadily improved her status and qualification and is currently a Graduate Headmistress of the Craig Nursery School.

TEACHER’S LIFE
According to her, a day in the life of a teacher is usually dominated by several roles.
She explained that as a teacher, “I am like a second mommy to those who require mommy attention, a nurse to those who would come not feeling well or may fall and get a bruise or scratch, and a counsellor to both parents and children who may come with family and other issues.”

The Nursery School Principal told this publication that the job requires trying to learn the different personalities and the learning needs of each child and the way he/she learns.
“It requires patience, being kind, and showing love. You have to love the job to not feel like it’s a burdensome one,” Sproston said.

She added, “I’m still in the teaching profession for the love of the children and my desire is to see the main focus of teachers and the Ministry of Education by extension make the children a priority, to bring out the best in them, to be the change agent in their lives.”

Apart from this, the head teacher said that she believes that she is at a strategic point in the education sector where she gets to build the foundation of a child.
According to Sproston, some of her most proud teaching moments are when she is recognised by parents and the children themselves when they are grown.

“Also being acknowledged at school closing exercises and by the Ministry of Education for my years of service is also encouraging and propels me to push further,” she explained.
As such, the senior teacher noted that those wanting to join the profession, should do it for the love of the children and because they want to improve and bring about positive changes in a child’s life.
“My greatest joy and reward is seeing the children reaching their best potential. Making their mark in society,” she said.

HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
Apart from being a teacher, she wears many other caps. She is a mother of two minors and a Master of Arts in Psychology Student.
Sproston is also a member of a humanitarian organisation, The Kuru Kururu Humanitarian Pillars, where along with her brother, Pastor Philbert Toney and team, she partners with business persons in and out of the community to make a difference in the lives of persons by helping with school uniforms, lunch, hampers for elderly, single mothers, fathers, among other ventures.

In her capacity as a serving member of the Kuru Kururu Deliverance Tabernacle Assemblies of God Church, Sproston serves in the Women’s Ministries Department.
She told this publication that she has a passion for ladies – to see them succeed.

According to her, “Women go through a lot of things and most of them are silent because they are afraid of what society will think because they always present a “power couple, perfect life/family picture to society.”

As such, her advice to women is to face the realities and seek whatever help is necessary so that they can maintain their mental stability and maybe save their life because stress is a killer.
Outside of these efforts, Sproston is also one of the leaders of the Middle East Bank Cluster (Nursery) where she partners with the Ministry of Education to ensure teachers benefit from quality Professional Development sessions monthly.

Speaking about balance, Sproston noted, “Sometimes I feel like I’m neglecting my own to ensure others are alright.” But with the help of family members and close friends, she is able to strike a balance.

“I try to get home early to help my children with home assignments and whatever the home requires and then with the presence of technology, duty calls and I have to attend to an urgent submission.”
“I will be honest, it can be overwhelming sometimes especially when it seems like work is 24/7, but there must be a turn-off to also help the future generation I have at home. I sometimes take a step back, breathe and go again,” she said.

REWARDING EXPERIENCE
Although she loves teaching, and is passionate about humanitarian services, Sproston counts “accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour at the tender age of 12,” as her most rewarding experience in life. She explained that that moment changed the trajectory of her life.

Today she declares, “God is my main source of strength. I could not make it this far without Him.”
The School Principal revealed too that her ultimate goal is to “help people alleviate some of their cries, hence, my reason for pursuing a Master of Arts in Psychology.”

She explained that listening to the different cries of people daily, caused her to develop a passion to become a clinical therapist/health and family life counsellor.
“To make the lives of persons in depression situations better is my ultimate goal.

This I can achieve and do while teaching. I encounter many people daily; male, female, young people, children that I encourage them to stay strong and remain focused,” Sproston said.
She added, “If I could, I would change the lives of many, especially those situations that our babies (children) live in.”

 

 

 

 

 

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