To Principal Sinanan, with love

On Thursday June 27, colleagues, friends, family and stakeholders in education gathered in the auditorium of the Palo Seco Secondary School to pay tribute to its longest serving principal of 12 years.

Davanand Sinanan was being honoured on the occasion of his retirement after 35 years of service to education. Tributes from different people and entities were expressed during the function aptly themed To Sir with Love, hosted by staff members.

Joanna Collins-Young, colleague and teacher at the school, led the accolades highlighting Sinanan’s remarkable journey in education from his first appointment as a Teacher II/III, Integrated Science, then his promotion through the ranks of head of department, dean and vice principal to become principal in 2012.

She highlighted his regularity and punctuality at work and his high visibility as principal ensuring staff and students were always motivated to attain high standards, to achieve his vision that Palo Seco Secondary School will be the best secondary school in the country.

Mrs Collins-Young reflected on Sinanan’s motivational student assemblies on mornings, his support for student participation and high success in co and extra-curricular activities, notably his establishment of the school’s first steel orchestra which serenaded guests throughout the function with renditions of Sinatra’s I did it my way, and Lulu’s, To Sir with love.

She reflected on his depth of knowledge, empathetic nature, willingness to listen and passion to empower his teachers among his exemplary leadership skills.

TTUTA president Martin Lum Kin was in attendance and expressed profound appreciation on behalf of the association and its members, to Sinanan for his extensive service to TTUTA during his career, having served through the ranks of various offices and ascending to leadership of the union as first vice president and president.

Acting principal of the school Natalie O’Connor expressed gratitude for Sinanan’s tenure and the successful institution she is inheriting on his retirement.

Vidya Murally-Mahabir and Kezia Sinanan-Jokhan, nieces of Sinanan and both secondary school teachers, expressed their love and appreciation, and that of family members, for him being their rock and support and an inspiration and fine example to follow.

Described by close friends as a man for all seasons and a friend who always added value, guidance and upliftment to the lives of others, Sinanan was serenaded by past student Jordan Frederick, through a superb rendition on saxophone, of Whitney Houston’s One moment in time.

The distinguished gathering was brought to sentimental reflection with a solo tribute by staff member Almaz Simpson singing Lulu’s To sir with love.

In his response Sinanan reflected on his very humble upbringing in Penal and paid high tribute to his parents, siblings and family circle which supported each other in tough economic times, his schooling through the then junior/senior secondary school system and later to UWI.

Apart from his ascension through the ranks of education and TTUTA, Sinanan reminisced that his most significant achievement as an educator/trade unionist was his ascension to the executive board of Education International (EI) during the period 2011-2019, being the first Trini and second from the Caribbean to achieve this feat.

This, he said, gave him a global perspective on education, significantly enhancing his capacity as an educator and champion of social justice, fairness and equity.

In a passionate response to the current trends in education, Sinanan expressed extreme disappointment with the Ministry of Education for its consistent deficiency in financial and infrastructural support to schools and reducing the role of Principal to clerical officers and fund raisers.

Referring to the ministry’s recent cultural transformation initiative, he paralleled the more important need for it to transform the “culture of inefficiency” that characterise its operations, resulting in delayed increments and retirement benefits, as well as the culture of disregard and disrespect by the hierarchy of the ministry to meet and treat with TTUTA regarding ongoing urgent matters and initiatives affecting the teaching service and education of the nation’s students.

Sinanan thanked the school for honouring his career. He expressed satisfaction for the opportunity to serve the cause of education, believing that service to man is service to God. He reminded staff and students to continue being the best they can be in their humble and ambitious endeavours.

Staff members, Hazel Johnson delivered the vote of thanks, and function chairman Joanne De La Rosa, brought the curtain down on what was a fitting tribute to an educator par excellence and a highly respected voice in education.