The Government is pleased to recognise the Department of Education’s Ms. Dionne Tuzo as the April recipient of the Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA).
Ms. Tuzo serves as the Lead Primary 1 Teacher and Mathematics Teacher Leader at Northlands Primary School. She has played a key role in the Ministry of Education’s pilot programme for Primary 1, which uses a play-based learning approach designed around real-world themes and activities.
The curriculum allows students to learn through exploration and supports each child according to their individual academic needs.
At Northlands, Ms. Tuzo implemented the Creative Curriculum and created a learning environment where students can express themselves, solve problems, and build foundational skills through play. This year, several neurodivergent students in her class have been able to tap into their own creativity and show what they know in ways that may not have been recognised in more traditional settings.
According to Ms. Tuzo in a traditional learning programme, these students might have been overlooked, but through this curriculum they’ve been able to show what they know in many different ways.
Her Primary 1 class achieved the highest assessment results in the school, and her classroom is now being used as an example for other schools that are expanding the programme.
In her role as Mathematics Teacher Leader, Ms. Tuzo introduced schoolwide math workshops that give students more individualised instruction. She also designed and led professional development sessions for staff, including live demonstrations, shared resources, and in-class coaching. These efforts have supported improved math instruction and helped teachers meet student needs more effectively.
Ms. Tuzo has also mentored new teachers and worked with curriculum officers to support early years policy and classroom practices. She continues to contribute to wider conversations on play-based learning and numeracy across the education system.
The Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, congratulated Ms. Tuzo, saying, “I congratulate Ms. Dionne Tuzo on being named the April recipient of the Public Service Excellence Award. Her leadership in delivering innovative and student-focused instruction through the Creative Curriculum, along with her efforts to strengthen mathematics teaching at Northlands Primary, reflects the kind of dedication we are proud to see in Bermuda’s public education system. Ms. Tuzo’s commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of how they learn, is given the opportunity to succeed is commendable.”
Head of the Public Service, Cherie Whitter, added, “Ms. Tuzo’s leadership is a shining example of what excellence looks like in action. She is not only transforming learning in her classroom but inspiring system-wide improvement.”
Reflecting on the award, Ms. Tuzo shared, “I am happy that public school gets to have some positive light shined on it. This is not just about me, this is about public education.”
The Ministry of Education congratulates Ms. Tuzo for her dedication and her outstanding contributions to student learning and public education in Bermuda.