ECC principal earns PhD preparing teachers to use technology

Armed with a recently earned PhD in Education and Leadership from Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Dr Philmore McCarthy has set his sight on transforming Excelsior Community College (ECC), where he has been principal since 2014, into a university college.

His doctoral research examined how teachers transition into technology-enhanced learning, a subject that became even more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when educators across Jamaica and the world were forced to rapidly adopt online teaching modalities. For McCarthy, the research addressed a practical challenge facing educators: how to help teachers integrate technology into traditional teaching without losing sight of the fundamentals of education. He noted that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has made that conversation even more relevant.

As educational institutions increasingly explore AI, digital learning and emerging technologies, McCarthy believes teachers must receive continuous professional development to ensure that technology is integrated meaningfully into the classroom. His career has positioned him to understand both sides of that equation. With a BSc in electronics and mathematics, an MBA and a PhD in education and leadership, he has combined technical knowledge, business understanding and educational leadership in shaping his approach to institutional development.