Dominican receives good reviews on Education book

The first book written by Dominican-born educator, Dr. Rosalind LaRocque, nee Caines, has been receiving strong reviews.

The publication, titled ‘Reform vs. Dreams: Preventing Student Failure’ was published in March last year by Rowman & Littlefield. 

LaRocque says her book provides a roadmap for education reform, not a “canned program”.

Dr. Bobb Darnell, President, Achievement Strategies, Inc. states, “This book reminds educators of the urgency to meet the learning and social-emotional needs of disinterested, unmotivated, low-performing, and even defiant students.

Edwin Darden, Esq. Director of Educational Law and Policy, Appleseed, describes it as a marvelous addition to any educator’s library and any school innovator’s toolbox for positive change.”

CHOICE magazine states about Dr. LaRocque’s book in a January 2013 review, “In an era of almost continuous school improvement schemes, LaRocque examines school reform within the context of student needs, teacher-designed plans, and definitions of ‘success’ that include more than high test scores.”

More than 25,000 academic librarians, faculty, and key decision makers rely on the reviews in Choice magazine and Choice Reviews Online for collection development and scholarly research. Choice reaches almost every undergraduate college and university library in the United States. Each year Choice publishes more than 7,000 reviews.

Dr. LaRocque,  whose 37 year career as an educator started in Dominica in 1975, says her educational philosophy is guided by the ideology of educators as leaders. She recently served on the Education Testing Service National Committee, developing the US National Teacher Leader Standards, which provides a career path for teachers that does not require them to leave the classroom. Currently, Dr. LaRocque serves as an associate director in the Educational Issues Department of the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, DC where she develops educational training materials and provides professional development to AFT and Non-AFT members in the 50 states, Guam and the U. S. Virgin Islands. She also does keynote speeches; her most recent engagements have been in Grenada and St. Lucia.

LaRocque spent most of her professional life in the educational system of St. Croix U. S. Virgin Islands, where she served in several roles: department chair, one of the first five Master Teachers, and an assistant principal. LaRocque has been the recipient of several awards in St. Croix for her outstanding contributions in the field of education. She was selected as the Teacher of the Month and Year by her students; was awarded the Tomorrow’s People (Community Service Award in May 1990); the Rotary West Award in February of 2000 and was recognized by the Dominica United Cultural Group of St. Croix in 2008.

Before leaving Dominica LaRocque taught at the Convent High School, and the St. Mary’s Academy. On the cultural scene she managed and choreographed dances for the dance group La Belle Theatre and was a member of the People’s Action Theatre. She was also a radio announcer on DBS.

Dr. LaRocque is married to Gustav LaRocque. The couple has three girls.

Her book,  ‘Reform vs. Dreams: Preventing Student Failure’, can be obtained online or as an e-book at all major online bookstores.