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Put God first
February 11, 2026
By Dr Margaret Nakhid-Chatoor
Psychologist and educator
mncpsych17@gmail.com
She stepped up to the table to sign the school register for the last time. Her colleagues surrounded her and took photographs to capture this notable moment in her lifetime. Service given for over 38 years. Hardships encountered, but her resilience stood the tests of time.
This woman is Linda Foster-Allum, wife of Desle Allum and mother of two adult girls—the elder, a teacher in Japan and the younger, a medical doctor at San Fernando General Hospital.
But she has also been a teacher and mother to hundreds of school children in Catholic schools over the last 38 years of her life—at Belmont Boys’, Nelson Street Girls’ from 1992–2005, and then at Carapichaima RC school for 21 years.
I happened on the school’s premises Wednesday, January 28, when the students and staff were celebrating this outstanding woman and she shared with me her lived experiences as a teacher in the Catholic schools.
Lessons for the next generation of teachers
Reflecting on her career, she offers heartfelt advice to younger teachers entering the profession. “Stay the course and don’t be thin-skinned,” she says. Teaching, she believes, requires resilience, creativity, and a willingness to seek knowledge from diverse sources.
For her, the classroom is not static—it is a space where teachers must research different educational landscapes while building their own character, if they are to withstand the changing dynamics in education.
The role of Catholic schools
For Foster-Allum, Catholic schools remain vital in shaping the moral and spiritual foundation of children. Parents continue to seek them out, she notes, because they recognise the importance of character formation alongside academic achievement.
She emphasises that Catholic teachers must go beyond teaching about God—they must live the Word of God through their daily actions, speech, and deeds. Yet she acknowledges the present challenges that some schools face: limited resources, insufficient personnel, and the need for stronger catechism programmes.
She advocates for a greater priestly presence in schools monthly for children to see the Word in action by these faithful, more robust teacher training, and professional workshops that address not only religious education. She also called for core academic skills such as continuous training in Math and Reading, and psychological support.
A call to the Catholic teaching fraternity
Her message to fellow Catholic teachers in Trinidad and Tobago is both a challenge and an encouragement: “We have to fight the good fight. We must embody what Christ expects us to embody as teachers. Jesus Christ was called the Greatest Teacher—we must strive to be more Christ-like in our approach to teaching.”
This call reflects her belief that Catholic educators are not just instructors but custodians of faith, entrusted with guiding children toward both knowledge and spiritual growth.
Beyond the classroom
As I listened to this teacher and woman of faith, what made her story compelling was not only her professional insights but also the human dimension of her journey.
For nearly four decades, she witnessed generational shifts in students, evolving curricula, and the growing demands placed on teachers. Yet through it all, she remained steadfast, drawing strength from her faith and her conviction that teaching is a vocation, not just a job.
Her retirement marks the end of an era, but her words serve as a compass for those who continue the sometimes thankless work of teaching. In her legacy, we see the enduring truth that education is not merely about academics—it is about shaping lives, nurturing souls, and preparing young people to meet the world with courage and compassion. In her words, we hear the timeless truth: to teach is to serve, and to serve is to love.
For Catholic educators, the mission is even greater: to embody Christ in the classroom, to live the Word through daily actions, and to guide children not only toward knowledge but toward wisdom and compassion.
May her journey inspire all educators—Catholic and otherwise—to fight the good fight, to remain steadfast in their calling, and to believe that through teaching, they are shaping not just students, but the very future of society.
