“I see myself playing a very important role in helping to mould the youths of this country, and I love doing it. I wouldn’t change careers for the world!”By Enid JoaquinIt takes guts to be the head or Principal of a school, but it takes even more ‘guts’ to takeCleveland Thomason the task of managing a school where discipline, or the lack of it, raised eyebrows, and parents’ reactions to their children’s placement there would invariably be – “That school? Not my child!”Cleveland Thomas, who has been a teacher for the past thirty-four years, is a man possessing such ‘guts’- a man brave enough to take on the post of Principal of a school that several years back, tethered on the brink of self-destruction.Some persons felt that Thomas had to be mad to take on such a challenge – that his teaching skills and professionalism would be better served at Mackenzie High, and that he should have applied for the Principal’s position at that premier Linden School.They of course did not know that Thomas had always yearned to head the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS), the institution that gave him the sound academic grounding that catapulted his successful teaching career.Thomas said that it had always been his dream to teach at his alma mater, and that dream came true, when he was offered the position of Deputy Head at CWSS. He was appointed Headmaster of the school in 2005.Despite the negative image that was circulating about the school back then, Thomas said that he was by no means daunted, but rather, felt motivated to step in and bring about change.During an earlier interview with this newspaper, Thomas declared, “I see myself playing a very important role in helping to mould the youths of this country, and I love doing it. I wouldn’t change careers for the world!”He admits though, that it has not been easy.But being the stoic individual that he is, Thomas never complained, he just did all in his power to return the school to its glory days, even though, he said, inside he was ‘tearing up’.He has not failed!But enough about the school…Cleveland Thomas is the type of person that walks into a room, and changes the whole atmosphere.He exudes authority and character without even batting an eyelid!Some call Thomas a bully, but he doesn’t mind, as he confessed that quite often an authoritative stance is the only way to achieve one’s purpose.Thomas and his beautiful wife, Olive.Cleveland Thomas grew up in Melville Street, Wismar, Linden, and was formally educated at St Aidan’s Anglican and Christianburg Wismar Secondary respectively.He began his teaching career at the New Silver City Secondary School, which at the time was known as Johnson High School. He was just eighteen at the time.Reflecting,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Thomas said that he had serious reservations about applying for the job,Cheap NFL Jerseys, as he stuttered a lot in those days.Even some of his friends voiced their concerns regarding his ability to deliver lessons, because of his impediment.But forever a man of action, Thomas said that he approached his Pastor for prayers, and received same.That action appeared to have worked, because Thomas was hired, without even being subjected to an interview. He reflected that his “impeccable attire and adequate qualifications” were also a factor.Teaching was a surprise switch, because Thomas had initially set his eyes on working in the local bauxite industry’s laboratories.And he was quite qualified to do so, as his main focus in high school was on the science subjects.He admits that his mother might have had something to do with his change of heart as she had always told him that he had ‘the teacher’ in him.“As a little boy, I used to get these bauxite rocks, and I would write lessons on the outer walls of our house, and I would be teaching the plants in the yard to spell and recite tables, and my mother was paying attention, so she knew I was a Teacher before I became one!’Subsequent to his stint at Johnson High, where he taught for one year, starting in October 1982, Thomas enrolled at the Lilian Dewar College of Education in 1983. He graduated in 1986, majoring in Science.He would subsequently return to Johnson High, where he taught for a further three years. From there he was transferred to Mackenzie High.It was at Mackenzie High that Thomas said that he met Gloria Britton, then Head Mistress of the School. He confessed that Ms Britton taught him a lot about the image that a teacher should project – how to dress, walk and talk the part.“She taught me how to treat my work with class and prestige; dress the way a male Teacher ought to dress, and how to prepare and complete my records.Thomas later left to pursue a Degree in Education at the University of Guyana, from 1992-96. It was during that time that he taught at The Bishops’ High School. He would acquire his first moniker (R