Santana Morris
{{short description|Educator (b. 1990)}}
{{Infobox scholar
| name = Santana N. Morris
| image = Santana Morris.jpg
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|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|09|04}}
| birth_place = St. James, Jamaica
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| workplaces = Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic
| alma_mater = *Shortwood Teachers' College
- University of Technology
- International Centre for Parliamentary Studies
- University of the West Indies
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| main_interests = Education Policy, Leadership, Community Development, Economic Development, Philanthropy
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| website = {{url|https://www.santanamorris.com}}
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Santana N. Morris (born September 4, 1990) is a Jamaican educator, lecturer, and motivational speaker, known for her contributions to literacy and education in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Morris is the founder and executive director of the Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic (JIRC), an institution focused on advancing literacy through specialized programs and volunteer network.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jamaicaintensivereadingclinic.com/jirc-directors|title=JIRC Directors {{!}} Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic|website=Home {{!}} Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}}
Early life and education
Santana Morris was born on 4 September 1990 in St. James, Jamaica.{{Cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2019/01/20/santana-morris-advocate-for-literacy/|title=Santana Morris: Advocate for literacy|date=2019-01-20|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-25}} She completed a diploma and a bachelor's degree in education with honors from Shortwood Teachers' College. She further earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Technology and a Master of Educational Leadership.{{Cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2019/01/20/santana-morris-advocate-for-literacy/|title=Santana Morris: Advocate for literacy|date=2019-01-20|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-30}} Morris is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Administration.
Career
Morris launched her career in education and community service in 2016 by establishing the Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic.{{Cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170825/reading-clinic-promotes-growth|title=Reading clinic promotes growth|date=2017-08-25|website=jamaica-gleaner.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-16}} Under her leadership, the clinic introduced the All-Island Summer Reading Camp, first held across seven Jamaican parishes under the theme "Revolutionizing Lives in the 21st Century Towards Holistic Development."
In July 2017, Morris organized the second Summer Reading Camp with the aim of promoting literacy across Jamaica.{{Cite web|url=http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/literacy-specialists-needed-summer-reading-camp-july|title=Literacy specialists needed for Summer Reading Camp in July|last=|first=|date=14 April 2017|website=Loop Jamaica|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 December 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://msn.jamaicagleaner.com/article/news/20160721/teacher-organises-islandwide-reading-initiative|title=Teacher Organises Islandwide Reading Initiative|last=Campbell-Livingston|first=Cecelia|date=21 July 2016|website=Jamaica Gleaner|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 December 2018}} In an interview for Caribbean Life, she said the following about the aim of the camp:{{quote|"There’s a lot going on in society and with the lack of employment among youth and lack of equality for women — literacy is the foundation that will help combat and fight against it. [She has] a desire to support this through education and cultural development and to create awareness for people to show how important it is."{{Cite web|url=https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2017/5/cl-jamaican-reading-clinic-2017-05-05-cl.html|title=Raising literacy in Jamaica|last=Alexandra|first=Simon|date=14 May 2017|website=Caribbean Life|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 December 2018}}|sign=|source=}}
From 2017 to 2019, Morris served as Jamaica's Youth Ambassador to the United Nations. In September 2018, as Youth Ambassador, Morris launched a series of talks regarding safe spaces for Jamaican youth. The talks were held in numerous high schools and colleges in Jamaica under the theme "Preserving our Youth Through Strategic Intervention in Creating Safe Spaces in the 21st Century". In February 2019, Morris participated in TEDxUWIMona as a speaker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/30855|title=TEDxUWIMona {{!}} TED|website=www.ted.com|access-date=2019-04-26}}
In addition to her work with JIRC, Morris is a lecturer in Business Studies and works as an education and business consultant.
Volunteer work and advocacy
Morris has been involved in community service, particularly through her work with Kiwanis International, where she served as a Distinguished President. Her advocacy includes promoting youth participation in global decision-making and supporting educational reforms in Jamaica, including the introduction of bilingual literacy teaching in early childhood education.{{Cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20190225/multilingualism-key-move-country-forward-morris-un-youth-ambassador-renews|title=Multilingualism key to move country forward – Morris - UN youth ambassador renews call for J’cans to learn more languages|date=2019-02-25|website=jamaica-gleaner.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2023/05/08/unravelling-the-ties-between-negative-parenting-and-lifelong-trauma/|title=Unravelling the ties between negative parenting and lifelong trauma|date=8 May 2023|website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=11 December 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://jis.gov.jm/youth-ambassador-empowering-students-in-st-james/|title=Youth Ambassador Empowering Students in St. James|date=2018-09-30|website=Jamaica Information Service|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20190312/ja-woo-native-spanish-speakers-schools|title=Ja to woo native Spanish speakers for schools|date=2019-03-12|website=jamaica-gleaner.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}
Awards and honors
Morris has received numerous awards for her work which includes the Prime Minister's Youth Award for Excellence in Leadership (2017){{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/santana-morris-to-advocate-for-youth-development_121239?profile=1373|title=Jamaica Observer Limited|website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=2018-12-16}} and the Youth Musgrave Medal (2019) for education, community development, and leadership. In her role as Youth Ambassador, Morris contributed to educational reforms in Jamaica, including initiatives focused on creating safe spaces for youth across the country.{{cite web|url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/12/05/time-restore-village/|title=Time to restore the village|date=5 December 2024|website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=11 December 2024}} The list of awards and honors includes:
- 2016: Governor General's Achievement Award for Achievement for Excellence in Community Work & Leadership (issued in Jamaica){{Cite web|url=https://ggpe.org.jm/awardee/santana-morris/|title=Governor-General Achievement Awardee: Santana Morris|last=|first=|date=|website=Governor-General's Programme for Excellence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219230346/https://ggpe.org.jm/awardee/santana-morris/|archive-date=19 December 2018|access-date=16 December 2018|url-status=dead}}
- 2016: I Believe Initiative Ambassador (issued in Jamaica)
- 2017: 30-Under-30 Emerging Leaders/Change Makers Award (issued in Washington, D.C.){{Cite web|url=https://jamaicans.com/13-jamaicans-receive-30-under-30-caribbean-american-emerging-leaderschange-makers-award/|title=13 Jamaicans Receive 30-Under-30 Caribbean American Emerging Leaders/Change Makers Award|last=|first=|date=|website=The Jamaicans|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 December 2018}}
- 2017: Prime Minister's Youth Award for Excellence in Leadership (issued in Jamaica)
- 2019: Exemplifying "Service Above Self" (issued by Rotaract Montego Bay)
- 2019: Youth Musgrave Medal (issued by Council Institute of Jamaica)
- 2020: Distinguished President (issued by Kiwanis International)
Publications
Morris has authored several educational workbooks designed to build critical thinking and analytical skills in learners. These include KWL Comprehension Workbook: Building Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills (2019) and Strategic Reading Record Book: Building Critical & Analytical Skills (2019). She has also written on entrepreneurial topics, such as in Airbnb Edge: Transforming Spaces into Profit (2023).
=Selected bibliography=
- {{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791387888/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VOgrCbCV1ZK8T|title=KWL Comprehension Workbook: Building Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills|last=Morris|first=Santana N.|publisher=Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic|year=2019|isbn=1791387888|location=Montego Bay|pages=}}
- {{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792849575/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LNgrCbNXXS6AE|title=KWL Vocabulary Workbook: Vocabulary Building Strategies (Volume)|last=Morris|first=Santana N.|publisher=Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic|year=2018|isbn=1792849575|location=Montego Bay|pages=}}
- {{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/1793202702/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pOgrCbCS60XEY|title=Double Entry Reading Journal|last=Morris|first=Santana N.|publisher=Jamaican Intensive reading Clinic|year=2019|isbn=1793202702|location=Montego Bay|pages=}}
- {{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/1793801401/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_oPgrCbNK751TB|title=Strategic Reading Record Book: Building Critical & Analytical Skills|first=Santana N.|last=Morris|publisher=Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic|year=2019|isbn=1793801401|location=Montego Bay|pages=}}
- {{Cite book|title=Keeping Control of Your Daily Tasks Diary: Record-Track-Complete|last=Morris|first=Santana|publisher=Independently published|year=2014|isbn=978-1730874123|location=Jamaica|pages=}}
- {{Cite book|title=Using First Line Strategy To Build Critical Thinking Skills In Literacy:|last=Morris|first=Santana|publisher=Independent|year=2019|isbn=978-1091329911|location=|pages=}}
- Alphabets in the Jamaican Context
- Motivating Children to Master The Art of Reading
- Building Moral and Social Values in Children's Lives
- Keeping Control of your Daily Tasks Diary
- Using Fine Line Strategy to Build Critical Thinking Skills
- {{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Airbnb-Edge-Transforming-Step-Step/dp/B0C5P9LZPX|title=Airbnb Edge (Transforming Spaces into Profit)|first=Santana|last=Morris|publisher=Independently published|year=2023|isbn=979-8395425416}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.santanamorris.com/ Official website]
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