Humble, God-fearing, and driven by an unrelenting thirst for greatness, that’s how Garfield Pollydore describes himself. Today, he stands as a shining example of perseverance and purpose, but his path to becoming an educator was far from straightforward.
As a child, Garfield never imagined himself at the front of a classroom. His early dream was to pursue a career in science. But after five years at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region Six, he realised he needed an environment that would challenge him and allow his full potential to shine.
For two years, he applied for teaching positions, until his 25th birthday in 2016, when he finally received the call that would transform his life. Though assigned to a primary school rather than the secondary level he had applied for, Garfield embraced the opportunity and soon realized that teaching was his divine calling.
Ironically, Garfield’s own academic journey had once been rocky. As a child, he was often late, absent, and unmotivated, until he met his Grade Six teacher, Miss Yonette Benfield, whose dedication and compassion ignited his passion for learning. Her encouragement helped him earn 408 marks at the NGSA and secure a place at Canje Secondary School, where his love for science blossomed under the guidance of Miss Hollian Bristol (née Pluck). That early success taught him the power of focus, hard work, and self-belief, lessons he now passes on to his own students.
Throughout his career, Garfield has been mentored by several educators, including Jenis Archibald and Ardith Conway of NATI, and Viola Leecock of CPCE, as well as Deputy Mayor Wayne McIntosh, who encouraged him to further his studies at the Cyril Potter College of Education and later at the University of Guyana.
His journey has been filled with rewarding moments, none more so than in 2023, when one of his students topped Region Six in the NGSA and earned a place at Queen’s College. Four others also secured spots at top schools such as St. Stanislaus College and President’s College. “Those moments renewed my passion and reminded me why I chose this profession,” Garfield reflects.
But success didn’t come without challenges. Garfield faced financial hardship, burnout, fear of failure, and moments of self-doubt. Yet through prayer, fasting, uplifting music, and the support of positive people, he persevered. His involvement in the Rotaract Club of New Amsterdam also became a vital part of his growth. Over the years, he served as President, Treasurer, Finance Director, and Professional Development Director, among other roles.
In June, at the District 7030 Conference in Suriname, he was honored for the Best Professional Development Project, titled “Build Bridges, Not Barriers: Effective Communication in a Multicultural World.” For this project, Garfield used prominent figures Jovan Wilson and Avia Lindie.
After completing his secondary education at the Cannes Secondary, he pursued a diploma in computer science at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, then an Associate Degree in Education at the Cyril Potter College of Education. Further, he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Guyana, motivated by his colleagues Orandi Solomon, Prashant Ryan Searwar, and Julie Rose, Garfield pursued an MBA in 2023, and is now completing a PhD in Educational Psychology at Arka Jain University through the GOAL Scholarship programme.
Garfield is a member of NTCOG national youth board and a youth leader at his local church.
He is a GSAM, and his role at school presently is managing classroom teachers, planning sports activities, as well as curriculum development and delivery.
His advice to teachers is simple yet profound: “Teach from the heart, not just the book. Students may forget the lessons, but they’ll never forget the teacher who believed in them.”
Garfield Pollydore’s story is one of faith, fortitude, and transformation, proof that with passion, perseverance, and purpose, even the humblest beginnings can lead to extraordinary success.
