ROSE-MARIE LOGAN: Transforming Lives Through Visionary Leadership

In the quiet district of Savannah in Hayes, Clarendon, a young girl named Rose-Marie dared to dream beyond her circumstances. The ninth of thirteen children born to the now-deceased Clarice and Ralmie Letford, she grew up in a home where faith and determination were as vital as food and water. “Life was rough,” she recalls. “My father worked in the sugar industry, which meant he was only employed for six months of the year. My mother was a homemaker who sewed uniforms for the children in our community, but that was seasonal. With so many children to feed and little income, it was a challenge.”

Yet from those modest beginnings emerged a woman of unshakable purpose—an educator, principal, and transformational leader with a divine assignment. Today, Mrs. Rose-Marie Logan serves as the Principal of Four Paths Primary and Junior High School in Jamaica, where her leadership, grounded in faith and compassion, is transforming lives. VBD Magazine caught up with the dynamic and mission-focused principal for an interview—one that overflowed with wisdom, authenticity, and golden nuggets of truth.

Determination and Divine Direction

“Education was my way out of poverty,” Mrs. Logan says candidly. “I saw it as the vehicle to get me where I wanted to be. Even when my parents didn’t have the financial resources to send us all to school, I would go without, because I had a plan.”

That plan included not just education but spiritual grounding. “I gave my heart to the Lord at age 11,” she says. “Since then, He has been ordering my steps and allowing me to be successful in everything I’ve done.”

Mrs. Logan’s educational journey began at Hayes Primary and Junior High school, and though she missed her first Common Entrance Examination due to illness, her teacher Mr. Ferdinand Dixon recognized her potential and nurtured it. Eventually, she sat the Technical Entrance Examination, and the Grade Nine Achievement Test—and successfully passed both.

She later attended Vere Technical High School, where her passion for the sciences took root. That passion led her to Church Teachers’ College to pursue teacher education. Eager to deepen her knowledge, she continued her academic journey at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in science education, graduating with first class honors. Two years later, she completed her master’s degree in the same field with distinction. “I received two awards,” she shares proudly, “one for most outstanding student in science education, and another for demonstrating Christian values and self-discipline.”

Called To Lead

Though her heart initially leaned toward nursing, circumstances redirected her path. “I applied to a nursing program but couldn’t find accommodation in Kingston,” she shares. “My father-in-law encouraged me to try teaching—and that’s where my passion was ignited.”

From Monymusk Preparatory School to Osborne Store Primary and Infant School, and eventually back to her alma mater, Vere Technical High School, Mrs. Logan poured her heart into teaching science. As head of the Science Department at Vere Technical High School, she transformed her team by implementing constructivist approaches to learning, based on the theories of Vygotsky and Piaget. “We stopped talking at students and started doing science with them,” she explains. “I taught my teachers to approach every child as someone who already has knowledge—we just have to find it and build on it.”

Her efforts paid off as the department saw amazing results. “One student told me, ‘Mrs. Logan, you make science feel like the only subject we’re doing in school.’ That’s the impact I want,” she says.

From Science Educator to Principal

Mrs. Logan’s leadership journey took a leap forward when she was selected to join The National College of Educational Leadership’s Aspiring Principals’ Programme (APP). “It was rigorous,” she says, “but all four of us who were selected completed it successfully.” Soon after, she was appointed acting principal of Vere Technical High School—and eventually, Principal of Four Paths Primary and Junior High School.

Prior to becoming the Principal of Four Paths Primary and Junior High School in 2019, Mrs. Logan began what she calls “an environmental scan,” with the blessing of the school’s previous leadership. “I visited the school quietly and spoke with the grounds staff, cleaners, and a few teachers,” she recalls. “People want to be involved in change. I learned early on—if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. So, I spent the first year observing and learning the culture.”

From her year of observation emerged a clear vision. “I needed to build staff morale, improve academic performance, increase parental involvement, and enhance both our information and communication technology (ICT), and the school’s physical aesthetics,” she says. With strategic planning, heartfelt collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, Mrs. Logan has made remarkable progress on each front—bringing her vision to life in tangible, lasting ways.

Technology, Transformation, and Trust

“One of my greatest accomplishments was securing a state-of-the-art ICT lab,” Mrs. Logan shares. “We partnered with the Digicel Foundation and now have a ‘smart room’ that not only benefits our students but is used to train teachers from other schools.”

With the new ICT lab in place, Mrs. Logan has big plans for STEM integration. “I identified a teacher with potential and asked her to lead the charge. She was hesitant, but then—God’s perfect timing—a training opportunity came through the Ministry of Education. Now she’s being mentored by Dr. Francine Taylor-Campbell and leading our STEM initiative.”

Dr. Francine Taylor-Campbell is a Science Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information with special responsibility for STEM curriculum integration in schools.

The school had also engaged Ms. Davia Bryan-Campbell, Founder and CEO of EduHub Company Limited, an organization with a mission to empower educators and students while revolutionizing the learning experience through innovative EdTech solutions designed for educational institutions.

This alignment, she says, is no coincidence. “God is intentional. Everything is falling into place.”

Parental involvement has also skyrocketed. “Our parents are amazing. They’ve raised close to J$200,000 for our seating project. One parent spearheaded the effort, and we’re now able to procure at least 15 outdoor seats for students.”

To motivate students, Mrs. Logan introduced classroom awards, public shoutouts, and maintains a visually engaging and content-rich school Facebook page. “Parents love seeing their children recognized,” she says. “We now have over 7,000 followers.”

Mrs. Logan’s staff morale efforts are just as impressive. “We host award ceremonies for teachers, take them on hotel trips, and offer small tokens of appreciation at meetings. These may seem minor, but they help to build trust and school pride.”