Islay Conolly, MBE (8 May 1923 – 3 July 2022) was a Caymanian teacher and school administrator. Serving as a teacher and principal at various schools on the islands, she became Chief Education Officer in 1970. She was honored by the Caymanian government with the Spirit of Excellence Award during National Heroes Day and was first recipient of the Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award in Education. Conolly was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1982 New Year Honours.[1]
Islay Conolly | |
|---|---|
| Born | Islay Leonie Bodden 8 May 1923 |
| Died | 3 July 2022 (aged 99) |
| Nationality | Caymanian |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Years active | 1947–1982 |
Early life
editIslay Leonie Bodden was born on 8 May, 1923,[2] on Cayman Brac in the Cayman Islands Colony of Jamaica, which at the time was part of the British Empire, to Ella and Harris Bodden.[3][4][5]
Career
editAfter completing her schooling, Bodden began her career in education as the headmistress of the Creek School in Cayman Brac in 1947.[6] On 28 December 1950, in Kingston, Jamaica, she married Callan Hunter Ritch[3] and they would subsequently have a son, David and separate.[7] Ritch moved to Grand Cayman and worked as the principal of East End Primary School.[6][5] On 12 April 1958, she married William Warren Conolly,[4] and the couple would later have two children, a son Burns and a daughter Jackie.[7]
In 1970 Conolly was appointed the Cayman's Chief Education Officer. Among innovations she brought to the school system were public education for the deaf and a junior college system.[6] Prior to her tenure, the only available schooling for deaf students was private education and there was no universal standard or public education for deaf students.[8][9] In 1981, Conolly was honored as a member of the Order of the British Empire[10] and she retired in 1982.[6] In 2008, she was honored by the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce as the inaugural recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award in Education.[6] The following year, she was honored by the Caymanian government during the National Heroes Day Celebrations with a Spirit of Excellence Award.[11]
Death and legacy
editConolly died on 3 July 2022. At the time of her death, she was eulogized by Premier Wayne Panton, who recognized her contributions to education including the introduction of community college and public education for hearing-impaired students in the Cayman Islands.[12]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ "New Year Honours list 1982". The London Gazette. p. 18. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ Cayman Chamber 2020.
- ^ a b Jamaican Marriage Records 1950, p. 2932.
- ^ a b Personalities Caribbean 1983, p. 158.
- ^ a b Cayman Compass 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce 2008.
- ^ a b Cayman Compass 2008.
- ^ Lucas 1990, p. 261.
- ^ Paxton 1981, p. 328.
- ^ The London Gazette 1981, p. 18.
- ^ Cayman Compass 2009.
- ^ Cayman Compass 2022.
Bibliography
edit- Lucas, Ceil (1990). Sign Language Research: Theoretical Issues. Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet University Press. ISBN 978-0-930323-58-5.
- Paxton, John (1981). The Statesman's Year-Book 1981-82 (184 ed.). London, England: MacMillan Press Limited. ISBN 978-0-230-27110-4.
- "50 years ago: A bull arrives, an eatery opens". George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Cayman Compass. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "COVID-19 Update for Friday, 8 May 2020". Cayman Chamber. West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- "Educator 'Ms Islay' passes away". George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Cayman Compass. 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- "Heroes take a bow". George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Cayman Compass. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "Jamaican marriage registers, 1880–1950: Callan Hunter Ritch/Islay Leonie Bodden". FamilySearch. Spanish Town, Jamaica: Registrar General's Department. 8 January 1951. FHL digital folder #7235153, Certificate #8900. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "M. B. E." (PDF). The London Gazette. London, England. 31 December 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "Mrs. Islay Conolly MBE receives Lifetime Achievement Award in Education". Cayman Chamber. West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce. 2008. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "William Warren Conolly". Personalities Caribbean. Vol. 7. Kingston, Jamaica: Personalities Limited. 1983. p. 158.
- "Warren Conolly dies". George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Cayman Compass. 24 October 2008. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.