THE Daryll Jordan Secondary School is grieving the loss of teacher Tara Blackman, who was fondly remembered as a kind and nurturing presence at the institution.
The 43-year old, who taught at the school in Trent’s, St Lucy, for the past four years, died on Tuesday in an accident along the KNR Husbands Highway at the junction with Chapel Street in Speightstown, St Peter.
A teacher of home economics, needlecraft and health and family life education, Blackman, according to some staff, had a profound impact on her peers and charges, helping to establish a breakfast programme for students.
Yesterday, the school was closed for classes in order to facilitate a visit by grief counsellors who met and consoled members of staff.
Principal Ken Layne and guidance counsellor Anastasia Branch said Blackman was a supportive friend and colleague who had a strong bond with her students.
“She was a really warm person, giving and not just to the students but to the staff,” said Layne.
“She was friendly, easygoing, easy to work with and her kindness is what we remember most of all, especially with her children. As an educator, she really put her time and effort into her work, working with the children.
“We’re going to miss her, we already miss her, and we will continue to miss her. The full extent will be felt among the children once they return.
We anticipate a challenging situation tomorrow so we are preparing ourselves for that,” Layne added.
Branch fondly reflected on the past year, when she and Blackman worked closely and developed a stronger relationship.
“We were in the same
year group and she was always very, very involved. She loved her students, she was always there to make sure that they were provided for.
“I think that they are definitely going to miss her tremendously. We would have started doing the breakfast programme when I began acting as guidance counsellor and she was always contributing in some way. She always wanted to make sure the children were fed, looked after and provided for and that is one of the things I truly admired about her,” she said.
Classes will resume at the school today, with a formal address being made to the students. Counsellors will also be present at the institution.
Layne expressed his gratitude for the support of the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, as well as the many colleagues from other schools who reached out since the news broke.
“This community of Daryll Jordan has suffered loss tremendously but we trust in God, put our faith and our trust in God to take us through this, that’s what we can do now.
“We are human, we are all touched by this. It will be tears, it will be hugs and tears but at the end of the day we are a family,” the principal added.
(JRN)
