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Department of Special Education Needs Services Welcomes First Occupational Therapist  

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, 

YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 3 June 2025: The Department of Special Education Needs Services (DSENS) within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture is proud to announce the onboarding of Milah Behlmaier, its first Occupational Therapist, to its expanding clinical team.

Ms. Behlmaier brings over five years of pediatric clinical experience to the Turks and Caicos Islands. No stranger to the country, she is a proud graduate of British West Indies Collegiate. She later pursued higher education at Pepperdine University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and later completed her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California.

Her professional journey reflects both local roots and international impact. Ms. Behlmaier previously completed a two-week externship in the Turks and Caicos, where she assessed the growing need for occupational therapy services. She also spent six months at a pediatric clinic in Haiti, advocating for children with special needs and providing essential family support.

Ms. Behlmaier specialises in sensory integration, feeding therapy, and early intervention, and has worked in a variety of clinical settings. She is deeply passionate about empowering children to reach their fullest potential and ensuring families receive inclusive, compassionate support. Her commitment to advocacy and her desire to promote equity for individuals of all abilities make her a welcomed addition to the department.

Dr. Anya Malcolm, DSENS Director shared “With Ms. Behlmaier’s appointment, the DSENS clinical team is now more robust than ever. She joins our in-country team of behavioral and speech-language pathologists, and behavioural consultant Oasis ABA. The department also continues to benefit from its partnerships with international visiting teams such as 1 World Foundation and Therapy Abroad, which provide speech therapy camps, multidisciplinary assessments, and audiology assessments, as well as neuropsychological evaluations with BTConcepts throughout the year.”

Commenting on Ms. Behlmaier’s appointment, the Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel M. Taylor noted, “I am pleased to officially welcome Ms. Behlmaier to our education family. Her appointment is a major step forward in our Ministry’s mission to deliver inclusive and equitable education for all. This milestone reflects our investment in building a strong, multidisciplinary support system that meets the needs of every learner. I commend the DSENS team for their leadership in expanding our clinical capacity, and I look forward to the positive impact Ms. Behlmaier will have on our students, families, and the future of special education in these islands.”

This landmark hiring reflects the Ministry’s ongoing investment in strengthening special education services and expanding access to early intervention and therapeutic support across the islands. For more information on the SENS department, you can contact sens@gov.tc.

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Education

Champions for Christ International School of Excellence

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Tiffany D. Grant-Saunders, MSW, BA Acting Principal/Guidance Counselor

Turks and Caicos, September 5, 2025 – It is our esteemed pleasure to introduce you to Mrs. Tiffany D. Grant-Saunders, MSW, BA, as the new Acting Principal/Guidance Counselor for Champions For Christ International School of Excellence, effective September 1, 2025.

Mrs. Grant-Saunders is the youngest daughter of Millicent R. Grant and Kenneth Grant.  Raised in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, she is a 2016 graduate of Champions For Christ International School of Excellence.  She holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Clinical Counseling from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, FL, having graduated Magna Cum Laude.

She brings her experience as a Mental Health Technician and Education Liaison in Dade City, FL. In addition, she completed her internship as a Therapist Intern with North Tampa Behavioral Health and Zephyrhills Behavioral Health.

We are excited to have Mrs. Grant-Saunders return to the Turks and Caicos Islands and invest her time and talents in the continued building of our student body here at Champions For Christ International School of Excellence.

Please join us in welcoming her home!

 

Claudette M. Basden

Founder & Executive Director 

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Bahamas News

Holmes Rock Junior High School on Track to Open in September

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Bahamas Information Services

 

GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Kingsley Smith along with Deputy Director of Education for the Grand Bahama, Bimini, and The Cays District, Michelle Bowleg toured Holmes Rock Junior High School to assess ongoing progress and ensure the project remains on track to welcome students for the new academic term in September.

Following the tour, Smith expressed optimism regarding the ongoing progress, stating, “Having toured the site and seeing the work that is being done on the weekend, shows the commitment and dedication to getting it completed.”

He also noted that after discussions with the contractors, he was assured that with sufficient manpower and around-the-clock work, the project remains on track for completion by September 1, 2025.

“One of our underlying goals is really access, so we are happy that the school will be up and ready for our students,” said Bowleg.

She highlighted that several zoom meetings were held with parents to keep them informed about key updates including booklists, uniforms, and staffing. According to Bowleg, feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It is a beautiful facility, one that parents will be very proud of, and the entire West Grand Bahama community,” she added.

(BIS Photos/Danielle Rollon)

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Education

Belize Students Explore Cruise Careers Aboard Carnival Paradise

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Belize City, Belize (Aug 19, 2025) – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, recently welcomed 40 students from five educational institutions in Belize aboard the Carnival Paradise cruise ship. The visit was part of an initiative organized in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board, aimed at inspiring future careers in the maritime industry.

The students represented Gwen Lizarraga High School, Sadie Vernon Technical High School, Nazarene High School, Anglican Cathedral College, and the Hope Center after-school program. The visit provided a firsthand look at cruise industry operations from Carnival’s perspective, highlighted onboard career opportunities, and supported ongoing youth empowerment efforts in Belize City.

During the guided tour of the ship’s public guest areas, the students were able to observe daily cruise operations up close, describing the experience as inspiring and educational, with many noting they learned about opportunities available in the cruise industry.

Captain Ivan Vatovic, Chief Engineer Domenico Bibita; Hotel Director Vivek Menon; Food & Beverage Director Stephen Kim Reynolds; Human Resources Director Daniel Marques De Oliveira; and Environmental Officer Daniela Ramos Licon spoke with the students about their respective roles aboard the ship. Learning & Development Manager John Philip Ortega provided an overview of Carnival Cruise Line’s recruitment process and the various shipboard career opportunities available.

Kwame Scott, Cruise Relations Specialist at the Belize Tourism Board, highlighted the positive impact of the initiative, “Partnering with Carnival Corporation has supported us to expose Belizean youth to viable career paths within the tourism sector. When students can see firsthand how the cruise industry operates, it opens their minds to possibilities they may never have considered.”

Julian Mortis, Director of The Hope Center, praised the program’s powerful educational value in an interview with 7 News Belize. She explained that the tour provided students with more than just a glimpse into a cruise ship. By learning about the roles and requirements, the children realized that a career on a ship, and the opportunity to travel the world, was a real and achievable possibility for them.

Photo Caption: Some of the participating Belizean students and teachers pose for a group photo aboard Carnival Paradise during an educational ship visit.

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