Special ed expert promoted to DES deputy director
(CNS): Elroy Bryan, a 22-year veteran educator and special needs expert, has been appointed as the deputy director of the Department of Education Services (DES). Bryan has moved up from his role as Senior School Improvement Officer at the DES with responsibility for Special Education Needs and Disabilities, where he has been working closely with the Ministry of Education to develop a new Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice. A former principal at Lighthouse School, he will now support DES Director of Education Mark Ray in a much broader role.
Bryan, who started the new job over a week ago, is assisting in the oversight of compulsory early years, primary, secondary and further education provision throughout the Cayman Islands. He will also assist the director with human resource issues and responsibilities to ensure that all schools and sections within the DES can deliver its various services.
Ray congratulated his new deputy, saying that Bryan has demonstrated extensive system knowledge, passion and a strong desire to continue building on the education system’s successes. “His appointment creates exciting possibilities as we embark on our journey to educational excellence,” he said.
Bryan holds a Master of Science in General Special Education from the University of North Dakota and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in Business and Health from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee. He is a 2008 recipient of the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching and a 2009 recipient of the Young Caymanian Leaders Award (YCLA).
Bryan was employed as principal of the Lighthouse School for two years and deputy principal at the Savannah Primary School (now Joanna Clarke Primary School) for three years prior. He also worked as head of the Adaptive Physical Education Programme at the Lighthouse School for 14 years.
“I am truly delighted at this opportunity to serve the children of the Cayman Islands in this new capacity,” he said in relation to his new job. “I look forward to the team’s continued support in creating the ideal teaching and learning environment for all our children.”
MoE Acting Chief Officer Lyneth Monteith said she was confident that in his new capacity, he will be better able to provide the director with the necessary support to cultivate a world-class education system for Cayman.
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Category: Education, Local News
With a degree in Physical Education from Lambuth University Tennessee, how can the new Deputy Director of DES fail to “cultivate a world class education system for Cayman”.
Look at our “world class” Civil Service which has set an example for all to follow.
31 @ 9:19 pm – I’m a skeptic but I didn’t realize Mr. Bryan has a degree in PE! Oh well then he’s all set. As far as I know, a PE degree is the only tertiary qualification Hon. Minister Julianna O’Connor-Connolly has! Look how far it’s taken her and by comparison, our education system!
God help us!
CNS: This is grossly unfair to both. Mr Bryan has a Master’s in General Special Education, as the article states, and Ms O’Connor-Connolly also has a law degree. She was a practising lawyer when she was first elected in 1996.
CNS so you are confident a degree in Special Education will transform our schools into a “world class” education system?.
CNS: Straw man argument.
Nothing will change. Heard it here first.
CNS- “Grossly unfair”? Perhaps but I’m not sure.
Forgive me if I’m jaded because I can’t find suitably educated young Caymanians for entry-level blue-collar jobs. I’m stuck with costly, barely suitable WP holders for the foreseeable future!
Look at the current treatment of special needs students and families in this country. As the holder of the Special Needs portfolio, his job was at-best unfinished and less than satisfactory. Special Needs children are continually denied an education in this country, pre/private/gov schools are all culpable. Look at the dysfunctional EIP program, the poor manger/supervisor appointments, how it runs backwards to every other early years program in the world. Nope, let’s celebrate another individual being permitted to ‘fail-upwards’
You’re wrong but I’d pay a dollar to see the Minister, CO and DES Director walk through the Clifton, John Gray and CIFEC disaster zones and speak with students 1 on 1.
Ok. Not his fault but how does this great Caymanian educator feel about the conditions our students are in again THIS WEEK ?! Terrible.
I’m talking about John Gray kids with their new books shoes and everything soaking wet yesterday because the can’t avoid walking in rain.
PLUS rain soaking them all while in Class!!
And while Givernment just proudly announce the doubling of the millions of cash they are now giving to Private Schools here!!!
Immediate help this disaster or send the kids back home for online classes.
This is below 3rd world education in public schools here. Such a shame with all the waste going on.
Don’t forget the similar thing last week at Clifton High. Teachers told their students to stay outside and get wet in pouring rains !!
Crappy care. And then walking home in the rains from the bus each day. Noo way
Walking home in the rain from the bus? What are you suggesting – a taxi to the front door? Entitled much?
Its called an Umbrella. Most stores carry them.
what are you talking about?
Why don’t the parents march on the school and then on government administration building. Get in their face and let them know exactly how you feel. After all these are your kids. Stand up and demand that they are accommodated safely in a learning environment.
Most parents work in the same building.
Caymanians only march against gay cruise ships
Teacher’s are not the only person who is responsible for teaching children, parents also need to take responsibility to ensure their children come home and take up a book and do some reading and mathematics. Every good parents should ensure there children get the best education just how they buy the children expensive clothes shoes and games. Teacher’s spend time at home teaching there children even though they are tired so why can’t we do the same.
Your comments are correct but I believe the subject is about the kids getting spooked by rain even in the classrooms. Should the parents become the umbrella brigade and go to the schools to cover them!
It’s actually pouring Inside the class.
Ie. Roof Leaks!
Excellent choice.
Congratulations Elroy!!! Very proud day!!!
Elroy is solid as a rock, hard working + gets it. Magnificent athlete in his day too!
If he can get the reading, writing and math skills up to par he will be great. More of the same will not really be good enough.
Whose skills are you referring to?.
University of North Dakota (#249) and Lambuth University, Tennessee (which ceased operating in 2011 due to shrinking alumni and the related financial strain) are two of the US’ great learning institutions. Everyone know that degrees from those two are…..almost like Ivy League degrees (Hmmm).
Anyway, good luck to the Cayman Islands with Mr. Bryan’s promotion!
Anyway, enough with my cynicism. I’d like someone who knows, to clarify the management structures in Cayman’s Ministry & Department of Education Services. I’ll structure it as I understand it – clarifications and corrections welcome:
Minister of Education
(Acting) Chief Officer
Deputy Chief Officer
Director of Education Services
Deputy Director of Education Services
School Principals.
I probably missed an Acting Deputy or Deputy Acting post somewhere.
…and yet, every year we dump thousands of kids out who can’t qualify for real jobs because they can’t read and write properly, have only basic maths knowledge (arithmetic) and know very little civics, world or regional history. Unable to function in today’s world!
Seems like total BS to me!! Our public education system is continuing to cultivate an island of morons!!
Interesting….what do you make of a ‘masters’ from California coastal university,
Worth the paper it’s printed on..?
Appointing a SEND specialist is probably a step in the right direction. Bit more value than buying some smart whiteboards.
Yes. SEN workers please.
So many kids with issues of all types.
At least 4 SeN in each school!!
Teacher’s are not the only person who is responsible for teaching children, parents also need to take responsibility to ensure their children come home and take up a book and do some reading and mathematics. Every good parents should ensure there children get the best education just how they buy the children expensive clothes shoes and games. Teacher’s spend time at home teaching there children even though they are tired so why can’t we do the same.
This is inappropriate. Yeah, Cayman has many education problems, but Elroy Bryan is not one of them. He’s the kind of quality person we need more of. He has always shown himself to be smart, caring and dedicated.
Your snide comments about his diplomas being inferior to Ivy Leaguers is laughable. It’s about the person. Plenty of idiots have graduated with those degrees (GW Bush, Trump)
You are what is wrong with Cayman. Have you taken a look at his successful career this far ? Instead of throwing shade maybe you should publish your credentials ?
11:16, for at least 30 years the ministry and department of education have been dumping grounds ( with promoted salaries) for those who could not or would not perform adequately in the school system. That is one, but only one, of the big problems.
Truly one of the shining lights in our Education system. Wishing you every success Elroy. Thank you for always caring.
Congratulations to an educated Bryan.
With no criminal history.
Now THAT’s funny.
So many capable Caymanians are being promoted within our civil service. This makes me feel so proud.
Congrats Elroy and team civil service.
Congrats Elroy!
Congrats Elroy. Please continue to do your best.