Twin trailblazers in education - Thorpe sisters honoured among SAHS centennial awardees
Loading article...
-
Dr Treisha Thorpe (front, third from left) and Keishia Thorpe (front, second from left), along with fellow honourees, display their certificates in recognition of their contributions to the fields of education and human resource development at the recent St Andrew High School 100th Anniversary Trailblazer Awards. Photo by Paul H. Williams
-
From left: Keishia Thorpe and Treisha Thorpe receiving their Saint Andrew High School (SAHS) 100th Anniversary Trailblazer Award from SAHS school board chairman Radley Reid. Contributed
Identical twins Keishia and Dr Treshia Thorpe were among 50 alumnae recently honoured with the St Andrew High School (SAHS) 100th Anniversary Trailblazer Awards. They were recognised in the field of education.
A citation from SAHS described the sisters as “Trailblazers in education, Dr Treshia Thorpe and Keishia Thorpe are internationally recognised education leaders, mentors and philanthropists. They co-founded US Elite International, a non-profit organisation that supports initiatives to advance the success of students (including many from SAHS) through mentorship and scholarship opportunities. They also promote and support the professional development of educators and sustainable education systems in developing countries.”
Keishia is the first black woman and educator to win the Global Teacher Prize (2021), awarded by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO. She is also an inductee into the United States National Teachers Hall of Fame (2024) and a National Life Changer of the Year (2018–2019) Grand Prize winner. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Strayer University in Georgia and is currently pursuing a second Master of Education, majoring in social-emotional learning.
Treshia, meanwhile, is an award-winning college professor. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, specialising in advanced accounting, from Northcentral University in Arizona; a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Bowie State University in Maryland; and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (accounting) from the University of Central Missouri. She also holds an Executive Leadership Programme Certificate from Graduate School USA.
“Receiving the Trailblazer Award from St Andrew High School for Girls feels like a deeply humbling, full-circle moment. This is where my journey began, where my grandmother, Jestina Daley, and principals planted seeds of belief in my potential long before the world ever did, to now be recognised alongside my twin sister, Dr Treshia Thorpe, and as the only ones from our graduating class by the very place that shaped my becoming is both affirming and emotional,” Keishia told The Gleaner following the April 18 awards ceremony.
Treshia, who has received several US federal service awards, said the SAHS honour carried particular significance.
“Receiving the St Andrew High School for Girls Trailblazer Award during its historic 100th anniversary centennial gala is an honour that is far beyond recognition for me. It is a reminder that, everything I learned and experienced at the school, I have elevated and continue to carry with me in ways I never imagined. To experience this moment with my sister as the only two recipients from our graduating class makes this even more humbling. It tells me that the work I've poured into my career and my community is seen not for applause, but for its impact,” she said.
CONTINUATION OF VALUES
Reflecting on her Global Teacher Prize — often referred to as the Nobel Prize for educators — Keishia described the Trailblazer Award as a continuation of the values instilled during her years at SAHS: “to live a ‘life more abundant’, and to use my purpose to uplift others … I stand today as a trailblazer because others planted in me, nurtured me, and refused to let me give up. This award is not just mine, it belongs to everyone who watered my roots. It is now my honour to plant seeds in others, inspiring them to chase their dreams boldly, starting the next best time, now.”
For Treshia, while the award marks a personal milestone, she dedicated it to those who shaped her journey — the teachers who empowered her, the friends who supported her, and the sisterhood that helped mould her character.
“It is also a reminder for me to keep lifting others, opening doors for them, and to keep showing up for young girls and let them know that their brilliance has no ceiling. SAHS taught me to be a woman of excellence, integrity, and service, and this award affirms that those values have guided my journey. I am deeply grateful and humbled and will continue the work that made this moment possible,” she told The Gleaner.
Though both sisters live and work abroad, they remain closely connected to Jamaica, using their resources and networks to give back. Together, they lead the Making Champions Project, which adopts schools to expand access to educational opportunities, and the Hope Beyond Distance Foundation, which addresses clothing and food insecurity. Most recently, they adopted Marymount High School in St Mary, having previously supported Excelsior High and Primary schools in Kingston.
Professionally, Keishia has held roles across classroom and leadership levels, including teacher, lead teacher, Grade 10 team leader, lead assistant principal, principal intern, department chair and faculty advisory council associate representative. She has also sat on and chaired several community leadership boards and committees. Since 2005, she has been vice-president and director of the liaison programme at US Elite International Inc., based in Largo, Maryland.
Dr Treshia Thorpe — Awards and Honours
- St Andrew High School 100th Anniversary Trailblazer Award
- White House Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service
- Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society Community Service Award
- 2024 NAACP Award for Outstanding Service in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- 2023 International Women’s Day Award of Excellence in Teaching
- Northcentral University Distinguished Dissertation of the Year Award
- Colorado Technical University (CTU) Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award (2021)
- Strayer University Provost Circle Outstanding Faculty Award
- Prince George’s African Diaspora Advisory Board Excellence in Teaching Award
US Federal Service Awards:
- Annie D. Moore EEO and Diversity Award
- Nancy K. Rector Award for Public Service
- James R. McFadyen Award for Excellence in Research, Data and Policy Analysis
Keishia Thorpe — Awards and Honours
- St Andrew High School 100th Anniversary Trailblazer Award
- Global Teacher Prize Winner (2021) — Varkey Foundation/UNESCO
- Inductee, US National Teachers Hall of Fame (2024)
- National Life Changer of the Year Grand Prize Winner (2018–2019)
- Joe R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (2023)
- Excellence in Education Hall of Fame Recognition Award (2024)
- Woman of Integrity Award (2022)
- Outstanding Teacher Feature, Ghana (2025)
- Ambassador Award, Team Jamaica Bickle (2025)
- Three mayoral proclamations (2025)
- County proclamation designating ‘Keishia Thorpe Day’ (December 14, 2021)
- Un-Sung Hero Community Award
- Mayor’s Medallion