PEOPLE often say when God closes a door, he opens a window, and TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Teacher of the Year 2024 Avernell Lewis-Ettienne had the bitter-sweet experience of that this year.
In addition to becoming TTUTA’s Teacher of the Year on April 24, the 47-year-old teacher at Vance River RC Primary School received the Point Fortin Borough Council Community Recognition Award for education on April 30.
Unfortunately, that recognition came just a few months after the death of her mother Agatha Lewis-Ettienne, who had been suffering from dementia which had gotten worse since the death of her father Frederick Ettienne, in 2018.
Agatha died in February, the week before Carnival and close to Lewis-Ettienne’s deadline to submit the portfolio of her work as one of five finalists for the TTUTA award. Lewis-Ettienne said she simply was not moving forward but people kept asking, “What would your mom say?” so she pushed through, gathering all the information and documentation for the award.
She said the vice president and fellow committee members of the Lake View Community Council, of which she is president, nominated her for both awards. But she did not know about the Point Fortin award until April 28, two days before the Civic Reception and Community Recognition Awards Ceremony.
Lewis-Ettienne explained she moved to La Fortune Lake View, Point Fortin in 2016 but returned to live with and care for her mother in Vance River, La Brea, during the covid19 pandemic, so she was heavily involved in both communities.
She was also involved in numerous school and church activities, and in numerous committees and activities of TTUTA on both the district and nation levels since 2007.
She recalled, at the TTUTA ceremony, while on stage waiting for the MC to read out their accomplishments, she and another finalist were chatting.
“While we were talking, they were going to announce who the winner was and she said, ‘Avernell, they called your name!’ I felt as if my legs wanted to give way.
“Memories of my mom just came rushing at me because she wasn’t there to celebrate with me. I wasn’t sure I would be able to deliver the speech I had prepared because I felt the tears just welling, but I had to keep it together.”
She said she was still adjusting to having received both awards and to people congratulating her on those achievements. But, she said the win was also one for her school, as the administration was very supportive of her initiatives and the other teachers helped her find solutions to problems.
She said she was elated, but saddened she could not share it with her parents who laid the foundation for her accomplishments.
“We didn’t always have, but they always made sure things were put in place for me.”
Lewis-Ettienne said her mother did not complete primary school because her family moved a lot, but she always ensured her daughter went to school and was involved in activities, including Brownies and Girl Guides.
[caption id="attachment_1153171" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Avernell Lew
