Ives Adelaide Oemler...

day), the Scholarship Board, the President of the Women’s Federation of North Caicos and the Secretary of The Penny Savers Bank. She used her influence in these organizations to garner support for the idea of a Secondary School for North Caicos. One year later, the North Caicos Junior High School was established (September 1973) with Mrs Hope James-Hamilton as Principal and teachers Mrs Gwendolyn Williams and Susan Musgrove. Mrs Oemler served as overseer.

This was not an easy road. Mrs Oemler and the group were dedicated to their cause. They wanted to see the children of North Caicos have equal educational opportunities as those in Grand Turk and South Caicos.

Her hard work was not done in vain as today many of her students boast successful professions. Among these are pilots such as Clifford Gardiner, Lyndon Gardiner, Paul Gardiner, Ferrington Gardiner, Bennett Gardiner; teachers including

Yvette Handfield, Hope James Hamilton, Gwendolyn Gardiner Williams, Valverine Handfield(deceased); Lawyers such as Ashwood Forbes, Ariel Misick; entrepreneurs Galmo Williams, Maxwell Handfield, Llewlyn Handfield. Additionally, she produced Pastors such as Rev. Goldstone Williams, Caleb Williams, the late Bishop Arthur Gardiner, Beatrice Skippings, Lighton Jolly; Nurses Hildred Gray, Claudette Gardiner, Jackie Jolly; Captains Emmanuel Gardiner, Arthur Handfield, Calvin Handfield; Civil Engineers Warren Williams; construction pioneer Chuck Musgrove; musicians Simeon Williams, Washington Williams, Marvin Handfield and politicians including Lillian Boyce, Washington Misick, Michael Misick and Ralph Higgs. Mrs Oemler was a beacon of hope and an extraordinary pioneer in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Despite her retiring at the age of 70 years, she continued to teach evening classes for