YONETTE Gordon Walters, a stalwart in the teaching profession with 37 unblemished years of service, has finally retired to focus on family life and other things.

She officially put away her chalk this year to bask in her golden years.

It was a bright Sunday morning, 55 years ago, that Vibert Gordon and Elaine Gordon birthed their seventh child, Yonette, who is fondly called “Yonnie” by family members and others.

After she was successful at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, which she wrote at the Mahaicony Secondary School, she had a conversation with her mother about career choices.

Yonette recalled at the time she wanted to pursue a career in nursing, but she was reminded that she has three siblings who were already nurses. She was persuaded to take up teaching.

After she agreed, both mother and daughter went to the Regional Office at Fort Wellington to fill out an application form for a teaching position.

Yonette recalled how elated she was when she received an offer to start teaching at the Number 29 Primary School.

To this day, she remembers the skirt and long-sleeved blouse her Aunt Vilma gifted her to wear on her first day of work as a schoolteacher.

To all her students and even teachers at that school, she was known as “Teacher Yonnie”. That is the name she was called by three generations of learners she had taught over the years.

In her quest to qualify herself in the teaching profession, she enrolled at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), and she successfully completed her trained teachers’ certificate in Home Economics. She completed her work study at the renowned Carnegie School of Home Economics in the city.

Yonette later signed up at the University of Guyana (UG), where she was successful and received a bachelor’s degree in education.

This teacher always tells the story of her graduation day when she took a pain killer to ease a headache she was having.

Soon after she realised she was allergic to pain killers, but it didn’t stop her from going on stage to collect her certificate.

In all the pictures taken that day, her face was swollen, and her eyes were swollen shut.

Her unfazed reaction to her unfortunate circumstances on one of the most important days of her life is a true reflection of the type of person she is.

She always has a positive attitude which she credits for her success in realising her dreams, goals and ambitions.

Yonette married Lester Walters in 1996, and the relationship produced three children: Keyron, Keyona and Keysean.

After completing stints of teaching at North Ruimveldt Multilateral and St. Joseph’s High School, she returned to Berbice where she took up a position at the Hopetown Practical Instruction Centre. She remained there for several years.

In 2012, she was elevated to the position of headteacher of the Fort Wellington Secondary School, and remained there until she retired.

In addition to her abovementioned qualifications, she also completed the Education Management Certificate Programme.

Yonette has been a member of the St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church for most of her adult life.

She served as the Secretary and President of the St. Gabriels Mother’s Union and was later appointed as the regional representative for the Mother’s Union in Region Five, a position she still holds.

In her 37 years of experience in the noble profession, she has consistently demonstrated the values that define our culture, integrity, innovation, and a steadfast focus on delivering results.

Her contributions have been instrumental in shaping successes, and her legacy will endure long after she has embarked on her well-deserved retirement adventure.