Young educator champions critical thinking and student growth

Jay Marine Spence blends her love of inquiry with a commitment to nurturing curiosity, resilience and critical thinking in her students. Beyond the classroom, she engages deeply with her community, believing that meaningful change comes from small acts of service and consistent dedication to those around her.

From an early age, she has been inquisitive about the world around her, exploring science and human behaviour. She is driven by a deep desire to give back and inspire others, particularly youth, to see their potential and pursue their dreams.

“I believe one of my most outstanding qualities is my resilience, that inner drive to pursue the goals I set for myself, even when faced with challenges or uncertainty. I continue to approach life with determination and a willingness to grow from every experience,” Spence said.

“My determination, coupled with my empathy, allows me to connect meaningfully with people and inspire through both action and example. Additionally, my warm and outgoing personality helps me build strong, positive relationships, making it easy for me to engage with others and bring energy and joy to every interaction. These qualities encapsulate who I am, both personally and in my daily life,” she added.

Early Curiosity

Spence spent the first part of her childhood living at the Montpelier Research Station in Bickersteth, St James, with her parents and siblings. She is the youngest of three children. From an early age, she was very exploratory, spending time outdoors interacting with nature and animals.

“My curiosity for science first began through these hands-on experiences, observing how livestock and plants were handled and cared for, which sparked my interest in biology and the natural world. Around age 12, my family moved to the tranquil community of Esher in Lucea, Hanover. To help me integrate and develop holistically, I joined the Esher Youth and Community Club, where I built friendships, learned new skills, and participated in community initiatives,” Spence said.

Growing up, she said she had to be highly adaptable. Her father battled polycystic kidney disease, which meant that every Tuesday and Thursday evening, she accompanied him to his scheduled dialysis at the Cornwall Regional Hospital after school.

After he passed when she was 15, she would wait at the Noel Holmes Hospital while her mother worked late shifts as a practical nurse or stay with her grandmother when she worked overnight.

“Experiencing these situations from a young age sparked my love and passion for science because I was exposed to so much beyond my years. Despite these challenges, I remained an active student, serving as a youth leader and maintaining my grades,” Spence said.

Roots of Science

Her curiosity in science was further nurtured by her sisters, her eldest a nurse and her second a public health inspector, whose studies introduced her to formal scientific concepts and inspired her to pursue a similar path.

“From a young age, I knew that education would be my way forward, and after my father’s passing, I felt an even stronger responsibility to carry the mantle, determined that no financial barrier or circumstance would hold me back. These experiences shaped my resilience, adaptability, and my belief in education as a transformative tool,” Spence said.

She always envisioned herself as a medical doctor, and becoming a science teacher was not something she had planned.

She first heard about the BOOST Programme during an orientation exercise at the start of her final year at the University of the West Indies, Mona from one of her lecturers, and she immediately felt a need to apply.

“I saw it not only as an opportunity to secure employment immediately after completing my degree, but also to fulfil my innate desire to give back to my community and inspire youth. My experience as a BOOST Fellow has been bittersweet yet ultimately rewarding,” Spence said.

Prior to entering the classroom, the programme provided pre-service teacher training that allowed her to deeply reflect on the kind of teacher she wanted to become, not just a good teacher but an effective one. It also equipped her with the skills and strategies that she now uses daily in her classroom as a science educator.

“I am passionate about science because it aligns perfectly with the way I think and learn. Science encourages questions and then provides the tools to explore and discover the answers for yourself. I love that there are no limits to what you can learn or how far your curiosity can take you,” Spence said.

Teaching Philosophy

Spence said she loves creating an atmosphere where her students are excited to learn. “I make it a priority to meet them where they are and design lessons around their interests. I use technology to keep them motivated and engaged and I incorporate gamified learning for students who enjoy games, digital collaboration tools to encourage creativity, PhET simulations to bring scientific concepts to life and bridge gaps in abstract thinking, and videos to help clarify key ideas,” she said.

Since working as a Science Teacher, she has taught Chemistry, Human and Social Biology, and Integrated Science. In her first year of teaching, she dedicated extra time outside of class for Chemistry, providing additional lessons and support, which helped two of her two grade 11 students achieve a grade one.

“For Integrated Science, my students achieved an 88 per cent pass rate in their June end-of-year examinations in grade seven and a 100 per cent pass rate in grade nine,” Spence said.

Her efforts were also recognised by the school, as she was named one of the Teachers of the Month consecutively from September to March last year for excellence in classroom management, record keeping, and punctuality.

“Overall, my successes come from making science accessible and engaging, meeting students where they are, and dedicating my time and energy to help them reach their full potential. However, seeing students grow, excel, and enjoy science is the most rewarding part of my journey as a teacher,” Spence said.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com