Laurene Simmonds-Robles, a retired teacher who taught in the public schools on St. Croix for more than 33 years, is still reaching out to educate people.

She created "The Virgin Islands Our Beauty, Our Pride, Our Spirit," a historical calendar designed to educate youth about local individuals influential in the history of the Virgin Islands. The calendar notes the individuals’ birthday and gives a profile with the contributions they made to the Virgin Islands.

“As a teacher for over 30 years I noticed there was hardly any information on locals,” Simmonds-Robles said. “There was nothing the children could associate with.”

Simmonds-Robles said the need for local heroes is essential for the self-worth and self-esteem for young impressionable minds. She added many children refer to popular personalities as their role models. She decided children need to know more about all of the local role models, not just David Hamilton Jackson, Moses Gottlieb (General Buddhoe), and the Three Queens. The calendar features influential educators, athletes, authors, ambassadors, politicians, and more.

Simmonds-Robles certainly knows young children and self-esteem, since she taught at Alfredo Andrews Elementary School for 28 years and at Ricardo Richards Elementary School for another five.

During her career she was a coordinator of educational and community activities. She was a Cub Scout troop leader at Ricardo Richards and a PTA president at Alfredo Andrews. And she was a single mother raising three children of her own. In 2006 she was voted teacher of the year at Alfredo Andrews.

“I was overwhelmed and humbled because I was honored by my co-workers,” Simmonds-Robles said. She was in her last year teaching when she got the idea to produce the first calendar, which debuted in 2010.

Her daughter, Mosis Robles-Mason, saw the problems Simmonds-Robles encountered during printing and production of the calendar, so she encouraged her mother to start a printing company. Three years ago Robles-Mason became the manager and Simmonds-Robles the CEO of House of Printing in Sion Farm, located where Mike’s Electronics was for years.

Simmonds-Robles said it was an honor to have the House of Printing chosen recently by the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce as the 2014 Nascent Small Business of the Year. Her son Jeff Green also works at the printing business. Her other son is Lance Green.

Simmonds-Robles was born and raised on St. Croix and graduated from Christiansted High School. She said Rita Schuster, a compassionate, young, and vibrant teacher she had when she was a girl, caused her to want to learn and become a teacher. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Virgin Islands and her master’s degree is from American International University.

Faith plays a major part in Simmonds-Robles’ daily life.

“I’m not here to just hear God’s word,” Simmonds-Robles said. “I want to do his word. I want to be a doer. I want to help people and be in the role of a servant.”

She is proud to be an ordained deacon in the Holy Ghost Deliverance Ministries. Simmonds-Robles is a member of the St. Luke AME Church, where she participates on the prayer team and is a praise and worship leader. She ministers to the infirm and counsels people with spiritual needs.

The 2015 calendar is on sale now at the House of Printing on Queen Mary Highway in Sion Farm, just past the intersection heading west. The business is open Monday through Saturday.