The moment you meet Gail Graham, principal of Whitney Institute Middle School, a sea of confidence and leadership surrounds you.

You are aware of calmness and an aura of sincerity and warmth prevail.

Mrs. Graham is the first Bermudian and first woman principal of the school. You know instantly that she loves her work and faces daily challenges with gusto.

“Since I was a young schoolgirl, all I ever wanted to do was be a teacher. Years ago, when I was a child, you either decided to become a nurse, a secretary or a teacher. I just had a natural inclination towards teaching,” she said.

Mrs. Graham is somewhat of an institution herself as she has worked 38 years as a teacher, mostly at Whitney. She was appointed as the Whitney principal in 1989.

She received her first degree in English Literature from Queens University at Kingston, Ontario and followed that by obtaining a Post Graduate Certification of Education at Leeds, England. She achieved her Masters in Educational Administration in 1993.

She proudly cites her daughter, Fiona Davies, as one of her first accomplishments. Professionally, she mentions guiding exemplary Whitney into the middle school structure since 1997.

As chairperson of the committee for Middle School Principals, she researched and visited numerous schools in the US and Canada.

“I could sit here for two days and talk of so many former students who turned out extremely well and are now happy and productive both personally and professionally. A published poet, a barrister, there are so many people who have excelled after leaving our school.

“On staff here are seven or eight former students who came back as teachers,” she said.

Each day, Mrs. Graham deals with varied challenges and said that she never knows what she will be dealing with during the workday.

“It could be a physical problem with the school, an upset parent, a sick teacher who could not show, two children having a disagreement — I have not been bored in 38 years,” she said with a smile.

When asked whom she most admires and why, she said her mother taught her the work ethic that she has maintained throughout her life.

“I admire many other women too, whom I met in education. For example, Dorothy Thompson, a school principal, and teachers Carol Hill and Connie Williams. They were excellent leaders.”

She cites previous Whitney principal, Ron Cripps Brown and school trustees J.J. Outerbridge and the late Jim Zuill as mentors.

“Mr. Zuill had so much passion for our school! He cared deeply and was supportive of me when I decided to take the principal’s job,” she said.

Mrs. Graham explained that the school has been in continuous operation since 1885 and had adapted to many changes throughout its history to reach its present position.

It is a grant-aided middle school within the Bermuda Government system located on an eight-acre site and accommodates eight buildings which range in age from the original 1884 structure, the Tucker Building, to the most recently constructed Outerbridge Hall facility, constructed in 1996.

All staff are appointed by, and are the employees of, the Whitney Educational Trust, which owns the grounds and buildings and operates the school. There is a teaching staff of 34, and there are two counsellors, an educational therapist, and a non-teaching Deputy Principal.

Mrs. Graham describes herself as organised, dedicated, fiercely independent and compassionate.

She gives advice to those who are starting out in the educational field by suggesting three things:

“Firstly, do it because you care about students.

“Secondly, always be prepared to go the extra mile as this is not a nine to five job.

“Thirdly, never, never give up.”

One of her dreams will be realised when she retires later this year.

“I am looking forward to volunteering for a few charities and spending quality time with my precious little granddaughter, Jordan.”

Mrs. Graham’s favourite pastimes are reading and needle work art. She loves creating cats, like the handsome collection on her office walls sporting a jaguar, a leopard, and cheetahs.

She loves to travel and enjoys shopping in Boston and Toronto. As a nature lover she takes vacations in the mountains of Colorado or the Canadian Rockies.