By Val Matthias. Updated 11:11 a.m., Sunday, October 11, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
For Gary Peters, teaching has never been simply about standing in front of a classroom and delivering lessons.
It has been about watching people discover abilities they did not know they possessed, helping them find a pathway when the conventional academic route did not seem to fit, and, ultimately, seeing former students become the people who carry the work forward.
Peters is now the longest-serving lecturer at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College’s Division of Technical and Vocational Education, where he is Head of the Department of Engineering and Industrial Technologies
He has spent 32 years as a lecturer at the college and 34 years associated with the institution.
But his journey did not begin behind a lecturer’s desk. It began when he was a student.
Peters came to the college from St Vincent Grammar School at a time when moving from grammar school into technical education was not considered the usual path. He said many students were expected to pursue A-levels and eventually university. But Peters had always been drawn to practical work. He initially wanted to study electrical engineering, but when that course was not available, he found himself considering refrigeration and air conditioning.
At first, he was far from convinced. He remembers wondering: “Who wants to do refrigeration? What is so interesting about a box?”
Then came an encounter that would change the direction of his life.
An older lecturer, the late Mr. Elford Payne, heard Peters questioning the value of refrigeration and took him into the workshop. Payne explained that refrigeration was about 70 per cent electrical.
That conversation changed Peters’ perspective.
He joined the programme, and another lecturer, Mr. AlfedBynoe, eventually told him: “I’m going to make a teacher out of you.”
At the time, Peters was not interested in becoming a teacher.Looking back, however, he describes the journey as destiny.
The reward is in the people
For Peters, one of the greatest rewards of teaching has been seeing students grow.
He says there is satisfaction in helping someone who initially lacks confidence discover an ability they did not realise they possessed.
He describes that process as passing on a baton. People had encouraged him and given him opportunities, and he believes those who benefit from encouragement should, in turn, encourage others. That philosophy has shaped his approach to education.
Peters says he has seen the refrigeration industry in St Vincent and the Grenadines grow, while watching students develop their skills and master their craft. For him, their progress is itself a measure of success.
Challenging the idea that technical education is ‘lesser’
Perhaps one of Peters’ strongest messages is about the value society places on technical and vocational education.
He recalls a time when technical college was largely viewed as an option for students who were not expected to succeed academically.
Peters argues that a modern society cannot function without skilled technical workers.
Doctors and lawyers may be essential, he says, but the technicians are the people who help make their work possible from maintaining buildings and vehicles to ensuring that essential equipment functions.
He believes one of the greatest highs of his career has been seeing students who may not have taken the university route find their place and become productive members of society.
And, he says, people increasingly judge technical workers not simply by their qualifications, but by whether they can do the job well.
Can they fix the car? Can they repair the refrigerator? Can they make the electrical system work? For Peters, those practical abilities matter.
More than a Lecturer
Peters’ contribution extends beyond the workshop and classroom. The tribute from the Division of Technical and Vocational Education describes him as a painter whose work can be found in homes and hotels across St Vincent and the Grenadines, a guitarist who shares his music through his band, and a published author.
His professional life, therefore, sits alongside a range of creative pursuits. But after more than three decades in education, his greatest legacy appears to be the people he has helped prepare for life and work. He says some of the students he taught years ago now fill roles in the refrigeration department where he currently works.
That, perhaps, is one of the clearest signs of succession the student eventually becoming the person carrying the work forward.
Teaching beyond the textbook
Peters does not see teaching as simply transferring information. He describes teaching as a noble profession and says sharing knowledge is among the highest forms of contribution a person can make to society.
But the knowledge, he believes, should extend beyond what can be found in a textbook.
Life experience, mistakes, lessons learned and the ability to understand the consequences of choices are also part of education, that requires patience.
Peters believes teachers must maintain their standards while allowing students to be themselves. They must also look beyond immediate results and consider what a student may become five or ten years down the road.
For him, success should not be measured only through examination statistics or certification, but also through a person’s contribution to society.
A teacher still looking ahead
After 32 years in the classroom, Peters admits he sometimes wonders when the time will come to step away. But retirement does not appear to be defined by a fixed date in his mind.Instead, he looks at what is happening around him. He sees former students now occupying roles in the refrigeration department people he once taught and helped prepare for their careers.
And for Peters, that may be the most fitting measure of a teaching life: not simply how long he remained in the classroom, but what continued after him.
The student became the teacher. The teacher became the mentor. And now, after more than three decades, the people he once taught are becoming part of the legacy he leaves behind.
END
About the Author: This story was written and submitted by freelance journalist Mr. Val Matthias, a trained communicator with more than two decades in the media sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication (UWI Mona), a Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management (UWI Cave Hill), a Certificate in Digital Marketing, and has years of broadcast journalism experience rising to ranks of a programme manager. All supporting materials for this story have been presented, vetted, and verified. Mr Matthias can be reached at valmatthias188@gmail.com
