Dr Verleen Bobb-Lewis has dedicated her entire professional life to education and helping others.

Even now, at 67, the noted Tobago educator is still working in the sector and showing no signs of slowing down.

Bobb-Lewis said her passion for education began long before she started her teaching career almost 50 years ago.

Today, she said, that passion burns even brighter.

“I see myself as one who just loves to develop and build the capacity of other people,” she told WMN.

“It is never about me. I just love when people do well and succeed. I feel happy.”

Bobb-Lewis was awarded the Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) for education during the National Awards ceremony for 2020 at President’s House, St Ann’s, on March 7.

She said she felt humbled to have been recognised for her contribution to education in not just Tobago but the entire country.

[caption id="attachment_945656" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dr Verleen Bobb-Lewis does some work at home as the techincal adviser in the THA's Division of Education, Research and Technology. - PHOTO BY DAVID REID[/caption]

“I feel really good about that. I feel elated, excited.”

However, Bobb-Lewis admitted she was shocked on learning that she had been selected for an award. She said a fellow Tobagonian had nominated her on three previous occasions.

“He always told me he would never give up because he felt I deserved it.”

Bobb-Lewis has served in various capacities throughout the education sector – from early childhood to tertiary level. She also had a brief stint in school supervision.

During her distinguished career, she played an integral role in the development of sport and culture and sport in Tobago, particularly within the northside communities.

Today, she is regarded as one of Tobago’s leading authorities on education.

In 2003, though, Bobb-Lewis faced a harrowing ordeal, which threatened to derail her career. She took no-pay leave to pursue a first degree in management and supervision at the UWI, St Augustine.

But during her studies, she experienced “unbearable pains” in one of her legs, which was later amputated.

“I was not diabetic but was told that blood was not circulating.”

Despite her limitation, she continued to work. But four years later, while serving as principal of Signal Hill Government School, the pains returned and her other leg had to be amputated.

Bobb-Lewis now walks with the aid of prosthetic legs and is grateful to have still contributed to the development of Tobago over the years.

“After I went through what I went through and almost died in the process of losing my legs, I became even closer to God. I know that he is the one that keeps and sustains. I hold on to that and nobody can move me from that. God kept me for a purpose and I have to fulfil this purpose.”

For the past seven years, Bobb-Lewis has been the technical adviser in the THA's Division of Education, Research and Technology.

Under this portfolio, she is responsible for early childhood care and education on the island among other programme