Khaylia Brown builds futures through science

For Khaylia Brown, science is more than a classroom subject. It is a way of making sense of the world, unlocking opportunity, and persuading young people to believe in their own potential.

A science teacher at Clan Carthy High School and a beneficiary of the BOOST Programme, Brown has turned personal hardship into a mission of service, using education both to empower her students and to advance her own professional growth.

Originally from Westmoreland, she describes herself as God-fearing, creative, and patient, with a fondness for reading, crocheting and tending plants. Her appetite for learning — and for helping others — underpins her work in the classroom.

Her upbringing was not without difficulty. Raised in a community often marked by crime and scarce opportunity, Brown recalls periods of financial strain so acute that she sometimes saved her lunch money simply to attend school. Assistance from the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) helped ease the burden.

Yet she resisted being defined by circumstance. “My mother ensured that I had all I needed to survive, and I was surrounded by love, culture, and the beauty of nature. Although we did not have much materially, I never truly felt deprived,” Brown said.

Books offered both escape and inspiration. She eagerly awaited the library bus that visited her community, borrowing volumes that stretched her imagination and fed her academic ambition. Her commitment to education was evident early: she won a reading award in primary school, earned recognition for excellence in science in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), competed in science quizzes, and served as head girl in her final year.

Those early successes laid the groundwork for a lifelong pursuit of knowledge — though not, at first, for teaching. At the University of the West Indies (UWI), Brown had intended to study physiotherapy. When she was not accepted, she enrolled instead in the Faculty of Science and Technology, a setback that proved decisive.

There, she developed a keen interest in plant biology, agriculture, and environmental science. A curiosity about how plants grow and interact with ecosystems grew into a defining passion. “Over time, I realised that I not only loved learning science, but I also enjoyed sharing that knowledge with others. Teaching became a way for me to combine my passion for science with my desire to encourage and inspire young people,” she said.

HANDS-ON APPROACH

Now in her second year at Clan Carthy High School, Brown teaches integrated science to grades seven and nine and agricultural science to upper-school students. She has quickly established a reputation for lively, engaging lessons. Aware that students learn in different ways, she relies on hands-on activities, experiments, outdoor sessions, and collaborative work to bring concepts to life.

“I realised that many students learn better when they can see, feel, explore, and actively participate in the lesson,” she said. The effect has been telling. Pupils arrive eager for class and curious about what each session will bring. “What motivates me most is seeing their excitement, participation, and growing interest in science,” she added.

For Brown, science’s great appeal lies in its immediacy. “What excites me most about science is realising that it is all around us. Science is not only about chemicals in a laboratory. It is in the food we eat, the makeup we wear, the money we use, the air we breathe, and the way our bodies and environment function,” she said.

Her affinity for agriculture is rooted in experience. Surrounded by relatives who cultivated small farms, she came to appreciate the importance of food production. She now seeks to challenge entrenched assumptions about the field. “I wanted young females to recognise that agriculture and farming are not only for males,” Brown said.

Her professional progress has been shaped in part by the BOOST Programme, which she credits with helping her through one of the most difficult periods of her life. In her final year at UWI, her family home was destroyed by fire. At the time, she was involved in a science mentorship initiative, Walking In Her Footsteps, organised by the Faculty of Science and Technology.

“Since becoming involved, the experience has been life-changing. The programme provided financial support, encouragement, and opportunities that helped me continue pursuing my goals during one of the most challenging times in my life,” she said.

For Brown, the programme illustrates the power of collective support. “I would highly recommend the BOOST Programme because it provides meaningful support, encouragement, and opportunities for growth,” she said.

The BOOST Scholarship, delivered in partnership with institutions including The University of the West Indies, Mona, and the National Baking Company Foundation, forms part of a broader push to strengthen STEM education.

Brown’s ambitions remain firmly set on both teaching and learning. Over the next five years, she hopes to deepen her studies in agricultural science, plant science, and food security while refining teaching methods that draw the best from her students. Above all, she intends to continue making a difference in young lives.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com