A reshuffle of principals and other leading education staff within the public school system is being implemented by the Department of Education.

Prospect Primary School principal Shangri-La Durham-Thompson is to take a position within the education ministry as an education officer specialising in fine and visual arts and will be replaced by Port Royal Primary School principal Holly Richardson who is also a general council chairwoman for school principals at the Bermdua Public Service Union.

In turn, Heron Bay principal Joann Dill will be transferred to Port Royal Primary School. The principal at West End Primary School Sandra Smith, a well-known educator and reading specialist, is retiring at the end of June while Trina Cariah, current principal at Paget Primary School, will be transferred to West End Primary School. Mrs Cariah’s departure has created an opening at Paget Primary School where Idonia Beckles will be the new leader.

Deputy principal at East End Primary School Daltonell Minors confirmed that a new principal is to be hired at the school but said she is not aware of any appointment to date.

Finally, Dellwood Middle School’s acting principal Tina Duke has now taken the top job at her school.

The Education Department’s long serving foreign language teacher and education officer for foreign language, Lydia Perinchief, will retire at the end of this month. The Department said that Miss Perinchief was instrumental in ensuring strong curriculum foundations.

Levyette Robinson will take over the post and is said to be an experienced educator, principal and former foreign language teacher.

Acting commissioner of education, Dr Freddie Evans, said: “In keeping with our continuing efforts to improve our public schools, and to ensure that the Department of Education offers our students systemic holistic educational programmes, we are very much pleased to announce principal and administration changes that will take effect in September 2015. Principal transfers had not taken place since 2012. As such, the Department of Education is pleased to provide these opportunities for principals who were seeking greater professional development and growth in their careers.”

The principals at the Clearwater and Dellwood Middle Schools will soon be announced. Dr Evans continued: “In an effort to strengthen parental involvement in the schools, the PTAs at each respective school were involved in the transfer of school principals and all anticipate working together with principals as a team during the upcoming school year.”

Edward Ball, general secretary of the Bermuda Public Service Union which serves the Island’s principals, told The Royal Gazette: “We all want to have an education system that is second to none. It is my understanding that some principals are being moved around primarily to bring different skill sets to a school team. Certain principals will bring certain skill sets that are necessary to enhance the team. We will be having ongoing discussions with the ministry when their sub-committees have done their work. There are a number of sub-committees that comprise principals and teachers along with ministry staff.

“My only concern would be the mistake being made of moving people for the sake of moving them even if they are not bringing anything of merit to the team, then the team doesn’t enhance and you don’t address the issues that may have been identified as weaknesses in the system.”