Acting Education Commissioner Donna Frett-Gregory, along with District Superintendents Gary Molloy and Jeanette Smith-Barry, mourn the passing of VIDE’s Winona Joshua, the St. Croix District’s invaluable data and assessment director, and Mary Ann Christopher, one of the department’s dedicated former educators.
“On St. Croix, I know that Ms. Joshua has made quite an impact – not only within the department but also within the community,” Frett-Gregory said in a press release issued Thursday. “As an integral member of the district’s team, Ms. Joshua was a staunch supporter of our students, worked tirelessly to celebrate their achievements and kept the district – along with the department – constantly focused on how we can better meet their needs. It is with a heavy heart that I offer condolences to her family and friends during this time. My thoughts and prayers stay with you, and please know that Ms. Joshua will truly be missed.”
St. Croix Superintendent Gary Molloy and the district’s principals observed a moment of silence in Ms. Joshua’s honor Thursday afternoon.
“We reflected on her contributions and spoke about how diligent she was in getting us the most accurate data to pinpoint, even to the most minute detail, what our challenges were and how we could address those needs for our students,” Molloy said. “We all loved and appreciated her candor – she made us stay focused on the issues and was responsible within the district for streamlining exactly how we assess our students’ achievement. Her method is what we use – she was truly a pioneer in this area, and it was most definitely because of her dedication to our students’ success. She was such a valued member of our team, and she will be very much missed.”
On St. Thomas, Mary Ann Christopher become well known in recent years for her contributions to the arts – in particular, for her stirring portrayal of the iconic Queen Coziah during the annual Dollar fo’ Dollar Culture and History Tour. Within the Department, Christopher was instrumental in founding the MACISLYN Bamboula dance group for students at Joseph Gomez Elementary.
“I am honored to have witnesses her spirit and energy, her dedication to the students of the territory, and her commitment to preserving the cultural ideals of our historic community and passing them along to future generations,” Frett-Gregory said. “On behalf of the entire department, I would like to also extend condolences to her friends and family on the passing of this enigmatic and truly talented educator.”