Ismay Caines-Taylor

Dr. Ismay Caines-Taylor is a retired professor of the City University of New York and the past Academic Dean at the Bronx Community College. Professor Taylor combines the skills of a teacher with a talent for administration as she instills in her students a healthy and vigilant skepticism. She exudes a sense of sheer pleasure in her work and projects considerable humour. She makes an indelible impression on her students and colleagues alike, and she has been entered in the Who’s Who in American College Teachers.

Dr. Taylor left Saint Kitts in 1967 after having taught for fifteen years. Her departure was a great loss to the Basseterre Senior School where she made significant contributions during its formative years. There, she developed a reputation not only as a skilled and dedicated teacher, but also as a caring and sensitive human being.

She quickly completed a B.A. in Spanish at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico then moved on to Spain to complete a postgraduate certificate in ‘Estudios Hispanicos’ at the University of Madrid. Later, it was on to New York University and to Columbia University to complete a master’s degree in Languages and a doctoral in Educational Administration and Supervision. She is bilingual in English / Spanish, and writes French and Italian. She obtained a professional certificate in Language Teaching Methods from Lore Institute of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.

She pursued leadership training through the Institute for Leadership Development at Rio Salado College, Phoenix, Arizona, and received a professional certificate in Leadership Dynamics. She is an expert in process; trained in verbal and nonverbal communication, group dynamics, working with resistance, working through conflicts; and facilitating arbitration, consensus and decision-making.

Throughout these years, Dr. Taylor has blended a career and raised her family with her husband Herman. She feels that this was accomplished “by accommodation” and further “that's what the feminist struggle is all about; you can have the best of both worlds.” They have three children Ricky, Troy and Sandra who reside in the USA.

In 1997, she returned to Saint Kitts with her husband enthusiastic about  living a retired life; this was not so to be. Her great passion for teaching, for teachers, and teacher education “retired” her. And, like with new wheels, she catapulted into voluntary work in the Ministry of Education. Her contributions continued to include workshops and lectures for teachers and principals, as well as counselling and career guidance for high school students in school-to-work-programs. It was because of her passion for education Dr. Taylor sat on the Education Advisory Board as chairperson. 

Dr. Taylor is a dedicated member of the Liamuiga Rotary Club and in 2004 she received the Rotarian of the Year Award. She is a past treasurer of the International Women Association of St. Kitts, a life-time member of the St. Christopher Heritage Society, and a member of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society. She is a member of Hope Chapel Methodist Church where she gives of her time and talent, including playing the organ. Dr. Taylor is a skilled diplomat and offers a high level of competence in protocol and people to people skills. She has been referred to as ‘a portrait of professionalism.’