St Jago mourns teacher’s passing

St Jago High School in St Catherine is now under a pall of gloom following the death of well-loved history, Caribbean studies and sociology teacher, Deidre-Ann Campbell.

When THE WEEKEND STAR visited the Monk Street-based institution last week, teachers were in tears for their colleague.

"I sat next to her for years and was her hairdresser at work. I waiting to fix her hair. On Monday I would have to do her hair, but sadly it was not to be," said Vanessa Gordon. "It is so sad that having become so close to her, the journey has left sadness at the school." Campbell who, started teaching at St Jago in 2005, reportedly died after contracting gastroenteritis.

Maxine Pitt said that the educator was a constant source of inspiration who was always forging a way for her children.

"I know she was the leader of Nuttall House [one of the sports houses at the school]. I have worked with her and even travelled abroad to work together. I found her to be an ambitious person who wanted the best for those around her especially the children," said Pitt, who teaches food and nutrition.

"She was a visionary, she was very ambitious and a go-getter, sadly she is taken away suddenly," another teacher Sherene Anderson added.

Vice-Principal Careen James-Barnett said Campbell was sadly missed and that she left a void at the institution that is hard to fill.

James-Barnett said that the 40-year-old Campbell, made an indelible mark during her tenure at the institution.

"This is where she would sit [pointing to a chair] and we would deal with the programmes in sports, education and graduation. She was very knowledgeable of the programmes here at school," she said. "Each morning I would call her inside, she loved fruit so there were times when she would be invited for fruits. We would talk about careers for our children and other relevant matters."

She said that the void left behind will be hard to fill as Campbell was very special, an inspiration, and someone from whom she learned many things.

"Simply put, I really miss her words of wisdom," James-Barnett said.