Racquel Berry-Benjamin is a former Commissioner of the

Virgin Islands Department of Education Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) is the public agency responsible for the administration of public education in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). It serves as both a Local Education Agency (LEA) and a State Education Agency (SE ...

. She served in this role from 2019 to 2022, overseeing the territory's education system during significant challenges, including the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. Following her tenure as Commissioner, she transitioned into financial literacy advocacy and business development.

Commissioner of Education

Appointment and vision

Berry-Benjamin was nominated by

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Albert Bryan Jr. in early 2019 to serve as Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Education. Her confirmation process faced initial hurdles, as lawmakers expressed concerns about her readiness to lead the department, which manages a budget of nearly $200 million, including federal funds. Berry-Benjamin made a second Senate appearance in March 2019 and emphasized modernization and workforce development. Governor Bryan defended his nomination, stating that he was "going to take the risk" because "we require change and you need change to get change." Following this hearing, her nomination was approved, and she assumed office as Education Commissioner.

Leadership and challenges

Berry-Benjamin led the Department of Education during school recovery efforts from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the transition to virtual learning due to the

. Under her leadership, the department distributed thousands of Chromebooks and MiFi devices to students, ensuring access to online education. Berry-Benjamin's tenure also included the development of a five-year strategic plan for the department, which introduced "A Portrait of a Virgin Islands' Graduate", integrating financial and economic education into the curriculum. She emphasized employee appreciation and professional development, stating that staff were "the No. 1 asset of any company".

Controversies

Berry-Benjamin faced criticism from lawmakers and educators regarding school conditions, department responsiveness, and student engagement. In April 2022, protests erupted across the territory, with educators and students citing inadequate classroom conditions, mold issues, and air conditioning failures.

Resignation

On June 27, 2022, Governor Bryan announced her resignation, effective immediately. Assistant Commissioner Victor Somme was appointed as Acting Commissioner.

Post-Commissioner Career

Following her resignation, Berry-Benjamin transitioned into financial literacy advocacy and business consulting. She founded Pathway to Prosperity and Champions for Financial Literacy, Inc., organizations aimed at promoting financial education among underserved communities.

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berry-Benjamin, Racquel Living people United States Virgin Islands people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people)