The Board of Governors of the Willowdene Group of Schools voted to appoint Mr. Peter Williams as acting principal and Mrs. Beverly Harris as acting vice principal of the institution.

The position of principal became vacant after Mr. Basil Tabannor, who served in the said position for 11 years, accepted a call to serve Northern Caribbean University as Principal for the West Indies College Preparatory School.

The tenure of Mr. Williams’ appointment is initially for one year and takes effect at the beginning of the 2015 school year.

According to Board Chairman and President of Central Jamaica Conference, Pastor Levi Johnson, “We are grateful for the outstanding work that Mr. Tabannor has done at the school for the past 11 years and we wish for him prosperity as he takes on his new assignment.”  

He also said, “During the one year period of Mr. Williams’ employment in this position, the board will seek to identify a candidate to fill the position of principal.”

Portrait of Mr. Peter Williams

Mr. Peter Williams has been serving the Willowdene Group of Schools since 1987. He served as teacher of Geography, History, Social Studies and Civics. He was appointed as Vice Principal in 1997. A position he held until the time of his current appointment as acting principal. He also currently serves as First Elder at the Spanish Town Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Mr. Williams recently completed his Masters of Arts in Education with emphasis in School Administration at the Northern Caribbean University. He was part of the 2015 graduating class.

Mrs. Beverly Harris

Mrs. Beverly Harris, teacher of literature and grade coordinator for upper high school was also appointed to act as vice principal responsible for the high school division. She takes the position made vacant by Mr. Williams’ appointment. Mrs. Harris has served the Willowdene Group of schools for over 17 years.

Willowdene Group of Schools is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Jamaica. It comprises 3 schools – High, Preparatory and Early Childhood, with a population of over 400 students.

According to information posted on the Conference website, Willowdene is a school that believes in a wholistic approach to education. According to the post, “We utilize a comprehensive curriculum to impart principles that impact the students’ physical, mental, social and spiritual faculties thus providing a rounded education and producing students of sterling character for service to God and man.”

In 2013, the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (IAD) awarded the Willowdene Group of Schools (WGS) the title of model school in the Jamaica Union Conference.

According to the Jamaica Union Website, “the Willowdene selection as the model Adventist school in Jamaica saw them receiving a plaque and US$10,000 to assist in the continued development and improvement of the school plant.”