St. Croix District 2017 Employee of the Year
Joycelyn Y. Ryan - Special Education
Ms. Joycelyn Y. Ryan is the heart of the St. Croix district’s Division of Special Education, a role she embraces and fulfills with pride.
She joined the Division of Special Education in 1992 as a Clerk Typist III, and has consistently engaged in activities to develop herself professionally and to enhance her skill set. Her persistence and commitment to her personal and professional growth were evident by her enrollment at the University of the Virgin Islands, where she completed an Associate of Arts degree in Office Systems and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, Ms. Ryan completed a number of professional learning activities in order to keep abreast of new developments in her field and to be able to deliver high-quality job performance. Fortunately, her teammates at the Division of Special Education have been the beneficiaries of her newly acquired skills as she generously shares her knowledge with them.
Over the 24-year period that Ms. Ryan has been with the Division, she has become very knowledgeable of the Department’s policies and procedures, and of the federal regulations governing the Special Education program. She is keenly aware of the cycle of activities in which the Division engages and is able to plan accordingly to ensure that deadlines are met, and the resources needed by the students and staff are always available. Ms. Ryan continually strives for excellence in her work. On many days, she works through her lunch hour and is often the last employee to leave the building at the end of the day. When necessary, Ms. Ryan comes into the office on weekends and holidays to complete tasks. Ms. Ryan even makes herself available to respond to questions or provide guidance while she is away on vacation.
In summary, Ms. Ryan is a dedicated professional who, each and every day, goes above and beyond the call of duty to support the goals of the Division of Special Education and the Department of Education. She is a highly skilled, responsible and reliable team member with an outstanding work ethic. She demonstrates an above-average knowledge of her job responsibilities and is able to perform with minimal supervision. Her friendly, customer-focused mindset and easygoing personality make her an absolute pleasure to work with.
St. Thomas-St. John 2017 Employee of the Year
Amariel Smith - Administrative Officer III
Ms. Smith is a proud graduate of the Charlotte Amalie High School. Since then, she has successfully completed more than two years of studies at the University of the Virgin Islands and is currently completing courses at an online university. She is also the recipient of numerous certifications and have received certificates of completion in various disciplines. Her goal is to further her education so that she may continue to achieve success in both her professional and personal life.
Ms. Smith’s faith in the Almighty is strong and is reflected in her service to her church and the community. She is presently an active member of the St. Andrew Episcopal Church, where she has served as secretary of the St. Andrews Youth Organization for many years. She also served as the Public Relations Officer of the Leonard Dober Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and is a true believer in “Service above Self.”
The two greatest gifts Ms. Smith has received are her daughters, T'Niqua Rogers and Ne'Kayla Hazel. They bring her joy and are the driving force behind her positive approach to life. She takes great pride in the role she plays as their mother and makes every effort to lead them by example.
Ms. Smith’s journey at the Virgin Islands Department of Education began in 2007 when she was hired as an Administrative Secretary. From that time, she has worn many hats, including, (unofficially) that of a Provider, Advisor, Psychologist, Negotiator, Nurse or simply a friend. Ms. Smith wouldn’t have it any other way, as she finds pleasure in helping others. She continues to give willingly of her time, talent and resources to assist anyone in need. Ms. Smith currently holds the position of Administrative Officer III at the Department.
Ms. Smith is both honored and humbled to be selected as the 2017 Employee of the Year for the St. Thomas-St. John District. She plans to use this recognition to inspire and encourage others, and remind herself, to continue to give of their best as they work collaboratively to serve the public and move the Department of Education forward.
