Math made easy - Shanique Pryce is Mathematics Teacher of the Year

After losing her mother at age seven and growing up without her father, Shanique Pryce moved between various relatives throughout the Corporate Area.

Her difficult journey, however, inspired her climb to an educator in Jamaica. While attending Camperdown High School in Kingston, Pryce, inspired by an exceptional teacher Ms Bailey, developed a passion for Mathematics.

"She had a remarkable ability to simplify the most difficult concepts, making them easier to understand," Pryce recalled.

However, her journey after high school was far from smooth. An attempt to continue tertiary studies was cut short due to financial and emotional hardships.

"I was enrolled at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, but had to drop out after a year. I then pursued short courses at HEART/NSTA Trust while seeking employment wherever I could," she said.

In 2017, Pryce learnt of a scholarship offered by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information for individuals pursuing studies in the sciences or mathematics. She applied and was awarded a full scholarship to pursue a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics) at The Mico University College in Kingston.

"I am forever grateful to the Ministry of Education for the scholarship, which covered meals, boarding and tuition," she shared.

Pryce graduated with first-class honours in 2020 and, in 2022, began her first teaching role at Immaculate Conception High School, instructing Mathematics to grades seven, 10 and 11.

In just three years of classroom teaching, Shanique Pryce has etched her name in Jamaica's education sector. A teacher at Immaculate Conception High School in St Andrew, Pryce was recently honoured with the prestigious title of 2024 Mathematics Teacher of the Year.

This year's Mathematics Teacher of the Year competition attracted 51 nominations from primary and secondary schools across the country's seven education regions.

"Nominating Ms Pryce for the 2025 Mathematics Teacher of the Year award was an easy decision. It was a no-brainer," said Stacey Reynolds, principal of Immaculate Conception High.

"Mathematics is usually a difficult content area for most of us, but Ms Pryce makes it seem easy and fun. In just her third year at Immaculate, she brings an infectious level of energy to her teaching."

Shauna-Gaye Young Henry, one of three Mathematics coordinators who observed nominees, said Pryce demonstrated consistent excellence throughout.

"During her engagement with the ladies at Immaculate, it was evident that this is how she interacts with them normally. Her teaching isn't just a performance; the consistency highlights her authenticity," she said.

"The questions she asked her students and the activities she gave them were not just regular but they go beyond the ordinary, skilfully linking them to real-life situations while integrating other subject areas. She also encourages her students to discover concepts on their own, which aligns perfectly with our goals," she added.

Launched in 2013, the National Mathematics Teacher of the Year competition aims to spotlight outstanding educators at the primary and secondary levels and forms a key component of the Ministry of Education's strategy to reshape the culture around Mathematics, given the subject's central role in learning other disciplines.