ST. CROIX — As soon as this reporter made his way onto the Central High School grounds on Thursday morning, he was escorted into the principal’s office, who, along with other members of the school’s administration, had planned a surprise celebration for Dinah Browne, St. Croix Teacher of the Year and the Virgin Islands State Teacher of the Year. They wanted the moment to be captured on video.<\/p>\n
The principal,\u00a0Janasee Sinclair, was elated that a CHS teacher was selected for the high honor. “We are so happy, so thankful and we are so overjoyed that it’s Dinah as the State Teacher of the Year. Central High School! We’re just really overjoyed,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms. Browne, who was later brought into the office on a ploy that she would be helping Ms. Sinclair with an accreditation report, later realized that something else was afoot.<\/p>\n
Looking at Ms. Sinclair — who was explaining that Ms. Browne would be spotlighted for the day — Ms. Browne, with a sly smile, said, “I feel ambushed.”<\/p>\n
She was.<\/p>\n
The school’s marching band started to play, and Ms. Browne was escorted outside,\u00a0where she was cheered by faculty and staff.<\/p>\n
The celebration, which included a parade, saw Ms. Browne being seated on the top of a drop-top sports car, while the school’s marching band and JROTC group performed around the school’s parking lot. Teachers and students flanked the parade and Ms. Browne, who has been at teacher at CHS for 22 years but has taught for 25 years, waved at the crowd, playing the role of honoree seamlessly and with constant laughter.<\/p>\n
The event was capped with Ms. Browne being presented with a framed photo showing the day she was awarded Teacher of the Year.<\/p>\n
Below, a video showing moments of yesterday’s affair.<\/p>\n