St Thomas’ dynamic duo dedicate their lives to education
SEAFORTH HIGH School in St Thomas is being recognised for its dynamic duo Nadola and Nevin Broderick, a married couple who teach together and started a new journey last week Friday as mentors for new teachers, highlighting their level of expertise and dedication to education.
With a combination of more than 30 years’ experience, the Brodericks said that they can appreciate it when a student is willing to challenge them. When asked what their years of teaching have been like, especially as the education system continues change, Mr Broderick said that the students’ drive has nearly disappeared in comparison to the earlier years of his teaching career when they were willing to challenge their teacher.
“I had a lot of students who really challenged me and wanted to learn. As the years pass by, things change a bit and you have less students who are challenging you and who show that they really want to learn,” he said.
“I think technology highly contributes to this. Everything comes quickly, especially with TikTok. Students nowadays have less inclination to challenge and ask thought-provoking questions. It is discouraging at times, but there are still a few who genuinely want to learn, and that is what is keeping me in the profession.”
SHARED MISSION
The Brodericks are also members of the mentorship unit of the Jamaica Teachers’ Council (JTC), which provides mentors and mentees with opportunities for career growth and development. “We understood the meaning of it (the programme) because they are new teachers coming into the profession who need to be guided. We remember what we have gone through and now it is much harder than before so these teachers would need some help,” Nevin explained.
With the lingering question of what it is like to both work and live together, the Brodericks say that it is not a problem because their encounters throughout the day are rare, especially since Mrs Broderick teaches English and Mr Broderick is a mathematics and information technology teacher.
Despite not seeing each other throughout the day, the couple uses lunchtime and their drive home to catch up on the day. “We offer each other a listening ear. We tell each other about the day and what we had to deal with. Sometimes ideas will come up as to how we are going to deal with that situation or some things we just have to leave alone,” the Brodericks said.
The couple was branded and badged by Fayval Williams, minister of education and youth, at the Jamaica Teaching Council’s Beginning Teachers’ Synergy Conference, as a symbol of their commemoration.
As the landscape changes and the challenges are increasing, this dynamic duo believes in the power of education in creating a positive impact on the new teachers and inspiring the next generation of teachers, hopefully starting with their children.
“If our child has both of our personalities, that child would be an excellent teacher with our patience and creativity.”
The Brodericks hope to bless their marriage with another child, in addition to Mr Broderick’s four children, who will hopefully lead by example.