Celebrating Teacher’s Assistants on International Teacher’s Day

This week, teachers were celebrated in recognition of their efforts through International Teachers Day. It’s a day where all teachers can be given their flowers for the cohort of children they adopt each school year. For many teachers, this profession is their life’s passion and the reward is seeing their students walk down the aisle to graduation. But while teachers were celebrated this week, so were assistant teachers. Sabreena met one such person in Ms. Sheree Thurton, an assistant to special needs students at Nazarene High School. In a week of celebration for teachers, she found this week’s look on the bright side.

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

This is Conrad Coye. He’s a fourth year student at Nazarene High school. He ranked first place in class in first form and second place in second and third form. He’s also a Prefect, an example of what a good student is and a leader among many. But he’s also autistic and for special needs students like Conrad, chances of acquiring a secondary education in Belize, is limited.

This is Jamie Muschamp. She is a graduate of Nazarene High School, but carries a learning disability from being hearing-impaired. Jamie cannot speak or hear but is now an entrepreneur. What these two students have in common was support through Ms. Thurton.

Sheree Thurton

Sheree Thurton, Special Needs teaching assistant
“I think it was just a passion that developed because I do have siblings that have disabilities. They’re not autistic or deaf but it was just something I developed. I decided to take on sign language and that’s how I got my job at Stella Morris.”

Ms. Thurton has been serving special needs children for fourteen years. She started as an interpreter at the Stella Morris school for special needs children, and would later provide support through the National Resource Center for Inclusive Education. Recently, she’s been the support teacher to Conrad for his past three years at Nazarene High.

Sheree Thurton
“I’m not doing sign language interpreting because of Conrad. Conrad is Autistic but he can hear.  So I just help assist him in all subject areas. Topics that he really doesn’t grasp as quickly I explain it to him in an easier way so that he understands. I also tutor him.”

Conrad Coye

Conrad Coye, Autistic Student

“I like her like a mother. And she does excellent things for me. Over the three years, she was a good assistant. She does everything for me like everyone.”

Nazarene High School is one of the few secondary institutions in Belize that offers special needs students a fighting chance at acquiring formal education beyond the primary level.

Joseph Uh

Joseph Uh, Vice Principal Nazarene High School
“We have had several special needs students with us throughout the years. We’ve had deaf and mute students. I could remember I taught two of them, you interviewed one, but we had another one. It’s a challenge having these students but it’s very rewarding when you could see that they complete fourth form and graduate. Especially here at Nazarene High school, we try our best for our students to graduate.”

Jamie Muschamp

Jamie Muschamp, Deaf Nazarene Graduate
“At the time here, I felt appreciative. I felt appreciative and grateful to come here  and be accepted here. I love that me coming here paved a way for other deaf students like me.”

Institutions like Nazarene High School are giving special needs children a chance at a secondary education, a chance at being productive citizens in the future. And while on October fifth we celebrate teachers that especially left an impact on our lives, it’s the special ones like Ms. Thurton, that leaves an impact on everyone’s hearts.

Looking on the bright side, I’m Sabreena Daly.