PRINCIPAL'S PROFILE
(M Phil (Theol.) Birmingham;
B. Ed Hons., Nottingham)
Elaine Foster Allen is Principal of Shortwood Teachers’ College, and has been since September 2002. She has spent over 33 years in education, here and in the United Kingdom.
She was seconded to the Ministry of Education between September 2008 and August 2010, to lead the setting up of the newly formed National Education Inspectorate, where she served as the first Chief Inspector of Education.
Elaine has worked as an Education Officer with the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture, she has been a principal of a local high school – Priory, which she was asked to set up when the school was given Grant in Aid status by the Government of Jamaica and she worked for a short period as an Education Consultant on issues around School Improvement Planning and Environmental Education.
In 2004 she was invited by the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, then prime minister, to be a member of the National Task Force on Education. Elaine currently serves on various bodies including: the Broadcasting Commission and the University Council of Jamaica. She is also a director of the Build Jamaica Foundation and member of the Education Board and Board of Bethel Bible College of the New Testament Church of God - she also sits on a number of advisory panels and committees.
While in the United Kingdom Elaine held a number of positions, including being principal of a Secondary School in Birmingham; and an Inspector Attached to her Majesty’s Inspectors. In the community, she served several organisations – Chair of BBC Midlands Bi-medial Committee; Executive member of Birmingham Women’s Hospital Trust, Birmingham Training and Enterprise Council and, Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Elaine has published several articles on education, gender and race issues and also made a number of key note presentations on a range of educational and other issues.
ELAINE FOSTER-ALLEN
Principal