Mrs. Yvette Wallace

It was at Brighton’s Estate in the month of September in the early 1950’s that Yvette was born to the late Elzeva and Benjamin Thompson.

As a start to her early education, she attended a private pre-school at Ottley’s Village. The late Miss Elvena Matthew was the teacher. Yvette recalls very vividly how loving and caring her first teacher was, as she tutored her. She remembers her struggles while trying to make the letter “A” but she recalls too the patience and guidance of her teacher. The teacher’s daughter Miss Adlyn Clifton Matthew played a part also in her education.

Yvette’s education continued at the Cayon All Age School which she attended with her brother Destin Thompson. She cannot forget how they ran from home to school at mornings, from school to home during the lunch hour, from home to school after lunch. They wanted to be early. They were afraid of the head teacher the late Miss Mary Charles. She always carried her weapon – the STRAP. The late Miss Mary Charles was well respected and feared too. At the end of the day, they walked with the other children who were going to Ottley’s Village or beyond.

Yvette is the last of two brothers and two sisters. Growing up her parents insisted that they must have respect for others. This family from Brighton’s Estate, St. Kitts worshipped at the Elim Chapel at Cayon. It was at that church where most of the family members experienced a personal relationship with Jesus.
Mrs. Wallace recalls that even though they came from a poor home – it was a happy home. Growing up she and her siblings were happy children, well disciplined with good manners

Her secondary education saw her attending the Sandy Point High School for a short stint. She soon transferred to Nevis and lived there attending the Charlestown Secondary School in 1970.At the end of her Secondary School days, she began a career in teaching at the White Hall School in Nevis, working with children at the Grade 4 level. She built quite a relationship with teachers and students alike, but her work at that school ended after only one year. She returned to St. Kitts in 1975 after she was married and her husband was selected to attend college that same year.

Yvette was then transferred to the Basseterre Girls School where she was given the responsibility of the Grade 5 class. She spent only one year at that school and, in 1976, she entered the St. Kitts and Nevis Teacher’s College. Fortunately or unfortunately, that group was the first to remain for 2 years. She received her local certificate as a trained teacher in 1978 and later her Teacher Education Certificate from The University of The West Indies.
In September of 1978, she resumed her class teaching at The St. Johnston Village School, now The Dr William Connor Primary School where she was placed at the Infant Level, tentatively, according to the Head Teacher. After working at that level for four years she was then given the choice to go to another grade. She chose to remain there. Yvette saw it as a great joy teaching those little people and watching the progress they make as one teaches and guides them.

In 1993, Yvette was appointed Head Teacher of The Dr. William Connor Primary School where she remained for one year before being transferred to The Bronte Welsh Primary School (1994) in Boyd’s where she served as Principal for 10 years.  While in that capacity, she travelled in 1999 to Leeds University in England where she pursued further education and successfully completed her studies earning a Master’s Degree in International Education Management. Upon return from University, she returned to her school in Boyd’s Village but was later transferred to The Ministry of Education where she served as Education Officer for six years. She retired in 2010.

Yvette was married to the late Jefferson Wallace and this marriage produced four sons; Stascius, Stanacius, Khrystus and Lemercius. She did well to ensure that her children all acquired skills in many areas including music. They all learned to play the guitar, keyboard and some wind instrument. She also provided the opportunity for each one to learn to clean, cook and bake. Today she can ask any of them to do those things independent of her and they do well. Interestingly enough, they have all pursued careers in Information Technology.

Since her retirement from the teaching profession, she has dedicated her days teaching children and adults to read, write, sew and much more. Students for her sewing classes come from all corners of the country such as Cayon, St. Paul’s, Old Road, Basseterre, Sandy Point, Boyd’s and even Nevis.

Mrs. Wallace always seeks opportunities to learn and always makes herself available to acquire new skills whenever an opportunity arises. This has led to her attending many classes in various disciplines over the years such as dress making and dress designing, floral arranging, cake decorating, and even Agro Processing.

Mrs. Wallace continues to learn and teach and always shows willingness to assist others. She gives much guidance and help to the Dare 2 Be Different International Academy in which her son Khrystus Wallace works with young people.

Today, Yvette attends The Good Tidings Gospel Hall at Boyd’s where she resides and also assists at the Victory Center which is a registered St. Kitts and Nevis Youth Church in her community with her two sons Khrystus and Lemercius.