The Victoria Road Preschool in St. Kitts has officially been renamed the Leonie James Preschool.

The renaming ceremony held on Thursday, May 15th saw the presence of education officials including Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley. In his remarks, he stated: “The renaming of this institution is a fitting tribute to our stalwart, pioneer educator – Mrs. James. It is a public acknowledgement of Mrs. James’ indelible mark on our nation. It is a statement that we value foresight, dedication, and transformative leadership. It is a reminder to current and future generations that one person, with a clear vision and a compassionate heart, can indeed change the world, or at least, our little corner of it, for the better.”

The renaming of the Victoria Road Pre-School ushered in the celebrations of a significant milestone of Child Month and recognizes the significant role that Mrs. Leonie James played in the Early Childhood Development Education Unit (ECDU).

Parent Advocate at the ECDU Mrs. Icilma Knight stated, “One of her most visible and enduring legacies is the annual observance of Child Month, which she launched in June 1983 with the first Child Month March”.

Additionally, Mrs. James’ daughter, Ms. Maria Crawford, offered words of gratitude on behalf of her mother for the kind gesture.