The Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that Mrs Tracelyn Hamilton has been appointed to lead the Department in the position of Chief Education Officer (CEO), effective Monday, 17 August 2026.
With more than 38 years in education, the new CEO brings a wealth of experience spanning the breadth of the education sector. Mrs Hamilton began her career in education in 1987 as a primary school teacher and later went on to serve with specialized skills as a Reading Recovery Teacher and an English as a Second Language Teacher. She has taught in five of the six primary schools across Anguilla and is still called ‘Teacher Tracelyn’ by the many students whose lives she touched during that time.
In 2008 she was promoted to the position of Principal, tasked with managing teams of teachers, support and ancillary staff while holding primary responsibility for the schools’ instructional work. During her 10-year tenure as Principal, Mrs Hamilton pioneered a range of interventions. This included the development of a Teachers’ Handbook to provide teacher orientation and give professional guidance. She also established the Single Gender Classroom project to address the differing learning styles and educational needs of boys. These initiatives demonstrated Mrs Hamilton’s professional commitment to instructional excellence, as well as her dedication to supporting the individual needs and paths to success for each learner.
In 2018, Mrs Hamilton was appointed Education Officer (EO), Multi-Professional Support Services (MPSS). In that role she has provided oversight for a broad range of services impacting students at the primary and secondary level. These services comprise special educational needs, literacy and reading support, and student health and wellbeing.
More recently, Mrs Hamilton has championed the introduction of sensory units designed to support students who benefit from carefully calibrated environments that promote self-regulation and skill development. Previously termed ‘special needs centres’ these facilities have been upgraded and renamed ‘Sensory and Support Units’ in line with best practice. Similarly, at the departmental level Mrs Hamilton and the Multi-Professional Support Services team have proposed the renaming of the division to ‘Student Support Services’ to focus on the desired outcome for student success rather than the professional skill areas.
Mrs Hamilton has also overseen the launch of the DOE’s Intensive Immersion English Unit at Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. This supports students whose first language is not English. She has also developed partnerships with Wilfrid Laurier University for continuing professional development opportunities for staff.
Her professional experience includes lecturing and teacher development. In addition to her teaching certificate from the St. Kitts-Nevis College of Education, Mrs Hamilton’s academic qualifications include a Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Bristol, UK, and a Master of Education in Education Leadership and Administration from Walden University, USA.
Service and a strong sense of mission also characterise Mrs Hamilton’s life beyond her professional and personal responsibilities. She makes time to invest in the wider community. She serves as Christian Educator and lay minister with the Church of God of Prophecy. She is also the Founder of a non-profit called ‘Inspire’, which runs a ‘No Boy Left Behind’ programme that enhances early literacy skills for boys (K–2), provides uniforms to young students in need, in memory of her deceased sister, and highlights the successes of children and youth at her local church.
As Chief Education Officer, Mrs Hamilton assumes leadership of the Department of Education at an important period of continued development and transformation. Her extensive experience in education, school leadership, student support and professional development positions her to provide the strategic leadership needed to advance the priorities outlined in Anguilla’s newly launched Education Development Plan (EDP) 2026–2030 and to see through a number of significant initiatives aimed at strengthening the quality and responsiveness of Anguilla’s education system.
The Department congratulates Mrs Hamilton on her appointment as Chief Education Officer.
