Cecil Jeffrey Thompson is the latest profile published by The Tribune from the ‘40 Fabulous Fathers’ honoured by Mount Tabor Full Gospel Church to mark the 40th Anniversary of Independence.
Mr Thompson was born in Mangrove Cay, Andros, in the picturesque settlement of Dorsette and went to school at Swain’s All-age School (later renamed the Mangrove Cay High School) in Mangrove Cay, Andros.
He gained a Teacher’s Certificate from San Salvador Teacher’s College (1968-1971) a BA (Hon.) History from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, WI (1975-1978) and an M.Ed. in Instruction and Curriculum, from the University of Miami (1980)
Mr Thompson has never forgotten that he came from humble beginnings, and that his education was paid for by Bahamian tax-payers.
As a proud product of the Public School System, Mr Thompson has given unconditional service to public schools throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, for the past 44 years.
1971-1975 – Principal of All-Age and Chester’s All-Age Schools in Acklins.
1978-1979 – Vice Principal, Hawksbill High School – the largest in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Freeport, Grand Bahama.
1979-1980 – Vice Principal, Eight Mile Rock High School, Eight Mile Rock Grand Bahama.
1980-1981 – Principal, J H Major Junior High School, Kemp’s Bay, South Andros.
1981-1983 – Principal, South Andros Senior High School and Acting District Education Officer (DEO) for the South Andros and Mangrove Cay, District.
1983-1984 – Principal, Eight Mile Rock School, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama.
1984-1993 – Principal, Hawksbill High School.
1993-1994 – Given a lateral transfer from Hawksbill High School as Senior Education Officer, in the District Education Office, in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
1994-2003 – District Superintendent for Grand Bahama, Bimini, Grand Cay and Cays.
2003 – April 2006 – Deputy Director of Education, with responsibilities for Pre-School’s Special Education and Special Services.
April – July 2006 – Deputy Director of Education with responsibility for School Management.
June 2006 – June 2007 – Acting Director of Education.
Mr Thompson has been a member of the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King Parish – Freeport’s first church – since August, 1978.
He has also served as a member of the vestry, a sub-deacon and lay minister, a sunday school teacher and priest warden.
Mr Thompson was the first student in the history of San Salvador Teachers College to be elected to serve as the President of the San Salvador Sports Association (SSSA).
He served as the Advisor to Preston Johnson – Chairman of the South Andros Cooperative Society and helped establish the South Andros and Mangrove Cay Sports Association.
Mr Thompson, along with Churchill Tener-Knowles and Harold McPhee was responsible for the formation or establishment of the Grand Bahama Games in 1993 and the Grand Bahama Regatta.
He helped establish the Grand Bahama Remembrance Day Parade and worked tirelessly e to ensure that every school and every youth organization and every marching band on the island of Grand Bahama participated in this important event.
Mr Thompson has served as a member of the Grand Bahama Independence Committee for more than two decades.
When Mr Thompson was promoted to the post of Deputy Director of Education in August, 2003, and without his knowledge, people in Chester’s Acklins petitioned the Ministry of Education, for Mr Thompson to be their Principal.
As a consequence, Mr Thompson was transferred from Hardhill All-Age School to Chester’s All-Age School, in August, 1973. People from the settlement of Hardhill accused the people of Chester’s of “stealing their Principal.”
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