Horace Fisher, Gleaner Writer

MAY PEN, Clarendon:

AT JUST 26 years old, Kenrick Tyndale was managing his own school. Already with first and second degrees to his name and advanced plans in place for a doctorate, the young Bethel College principal was well on his way to making his mark on the society.

Unfortunately, Tyndale was discovered dead and his body dumped in his motor car in Palmer's Cross, May Pen, Clarendon, Monday afternoon.

The young educator's death, which has since sent shockwaves through the education system, has so far plunged Bethel College into mourning. Students and staff wept openly when The Gleaner news team visited the educational institution.

overcame setbacks

Described as a hardworking, focused and ambitious young man, who grew up in grinding poverty, which was compounded when both parents died, leaving a household of young siblings to fend for themselves, Tyndale made it through high school with flying colours. He later enrolled at the University of Technology, before playing a leading role in the founding of Bethel College, where he has been a principal for the last six years.

Chairman of Bethel College and Tyndale's pastor, Colvinne Webb, said that Tyndale literally started the school from scratch and described him as "amazing, focused, dedicated an ambitious young man, with a lot of promises". In a hushed, distressed tone, she continued, "He just completed his masters and was making plans for his doctorate when he was killed."

Pastor Webb added, "He was in church Sunday and we were expecting him at work Monday, but when we didn't see him turn up for work, we began to call his number, which went unanswered, so we made a report to the police, who later informed us that they found a dead man in a car, in the Palmers Cross area, that fits Tyndale's description and, as you can see, it turned out to be him."

A region six education officer, Yvonne Campbell, who supervised Tyndale, said he was arguably the youngest principals among the cohort of principals under her supervision. He was one of the most mature professionals, and efficient school administrators in region six.

"Mr Tyndale was one of the principals that I supervise, so I work directly with him and I have come to know him personally and I can tell you that he was doing very well here, he played a leading role in the development of Bethel College," Campbell exclaimed.

The region six supervisor said that a trauma team has been dispatched to Bethel College, to give grief counselling to the students and staff and already, there are counsellors from the schools in Clarendon, counselling the bereaved.

rural@gleanerjm.com