On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the Potters Primary School graduation ceremony held at the Potters Seventh-day Adventist Church became more than a rite of passage for graduating students. It served as a poignant tribute to one of the community’s most revered educators, and a public reaffirmation of the foundation established in her honor to carry forward her life’s work. The Genevieve Smith Foundation, which has supported young scholars at the school for three consecutive years, awarded four standout 2026 graduates with academic scholarships, marking the first round of awards since the passing of the foundation’s namesake and founder, Genevieve Smith – known to generations of students and community members as “Teacher Gen.”
Teacher Gen passed away on December 11, 2025, leaving behind a 50-year legacy of radical service, compassionate mentorship, and unwavering commitment to educational equity that transformed hundreds of young lives. For decades, she called Potters Primary School her professional home, where she distinguished herself not only as a rigorous and dedicated classroom educator but also as a steady source of love, guidance, and encouragement for every student who crossed her path. Beyond the walls of the school, she opened her home and her heart to scores of vulnerable children in need, fostering, raising, and nurturing dozens of young people throughout her lifetime. Her core belief – that every child, regardless of background, deserves a fair opportunity to pursue their potential – earned her deep respect and enduring affection across the entire community.
Speaking on behalf of the Smith family and the foundation at the ceremony, J’noure Smith-Kellman, Teacher Gen’s granddaughter, reflected on her grandmother’s extraordinary life and the family’s renewed commitment to advancing her vision of empowering children through accessible, quality education. She emphasized that while the 2026 scholarship cycle carries unique emotional weight as the first held after her grandmother’s passing, it has also strengthened the family’s resolve to protect and grow the work Teacher Gen built.
“This scholarship programme is our family’s way of ensuring that my grandmother’s legacy lives on,” Smith-Kellman told the gathered crowd of graduates, parents, teachers, and invited guests. “She dedicated her life to serving others, especially children, and she firmly believed that education could transform lives. Although she is no longer with us, her passion for helping young people continues through the work of the Genevieve Smith Foundation.”
She added, “While this year has been one of tremendous loss for our family, it has also strengthened our resolve to continue what she started. Every scholarship we award is a reminder that her work did not end with her passing. It lives on in every child who is encouraged to pursue excellence.”
In total, the foundation distributed 2,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars in awards this year, with four individual scholarships of 500 Eastern Caribbean dollars each recognizing students who demonstrated standout achievement aligned with Teacher Gen’s core values. The 2026 recipients included Jerzaria Hamilton, honored as the Top Female Student; Tayzhoni Murrain, named Top Male Student; Zia Roach, recognized as the Most Improved Student; and D’hanna Henry, who received the Exceptional Dedication and Potential Award.
Smith-Kellman closed her remarks by congratulating all of Potters Primary’s 2026 graduates, urging them to carry the values of hard work and resilience with them as they transition to secondary school. She also extended gratitude and congratulations to the parents, guardians, and school faculty and staff, who work collaboratively to nurture students through their primary education journey.
Today, the Genevieve Smith Foundation remains fully committed to honoring Teacher Gen’s life and legacy by investing in the educational development of young people at Potters Primary, and celebrating students who embody the values of academic excellence, resilience, kindness, and service that she modeled every day. Through its annual scholarship program, the foundation works to ensure that Teacher Gen’s remarkable, decades-long contribution to local education continues to inspire new generations of young leaders.