Principal of Portmore Community College awarded OD

KINGSTON, Jamaica — When his grade-six teacher, Pansy Genus, needed to step out of the classroom at Dupont Primary School, she knew exactly who she could trust to keep things in order—Dr Rev Austin Wright. “Students do this, students do that,” Wright recalled, sharing how he would stand before his classmates, write on the chalkboard and take charge until his teacher returned. What may have seemed like a simple classroom responsibility to his teacher was inspiration for the little boy from Trench Town, in Kingston.

When he got home, Wright was still playing teacher – this time, his students were his mother’s plants. Decades later, that childhood exercise in leadership has blossomed into a 40-year career in education, including 25 years as principal. On National Heroes Day, he will be conferred with the Order of Distinction (OD) in the rank of Officer for service in the field of education.

“My first reaction was one of gratitude to the Almighty God and I was also humbled. I feel honoured and blessed to be receiving this award,” he told JIS News in an interview. Wright was first recognised nationally when he received the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in 2013 for service in education, community development and religion.

He told JIS News that while he was still in secondary school, he hosted a summer school in his community, charging each student five cents. His father, a pastor at True Witness Apostolic located at Mall Road in Kingston 11, allowed him to use the church building and about 50 students showed up. In September 1986, he took another step, establishing an early-childhood institution at the church with just 10 students.

It was unofficially called Austin’s School. He had no formal training and so he employed teachers, and his mother, who was a housewife, assisted him with the accounting and operations. By January 1987, the school had roughly 30 students.

“I had to take out my father's benches to clear the way in order for the school to function in the church and when it was church time, I had to put everything back,” he said. He shared that Mormons from overseas visited the school and gifted the students pencils inscribed with the words, “One way. Jesus said, I am the way”, as well as writing books.