Mrs. Tamar McKenzie
Mrs. Tamar McKenzie
Mrs. Tamar McKenzie is an accomplished education leader, human resource practitioner and governance professional with a strong commitment to advancing educational excellence, institutional development and national progress.
She currently serves as Head of School and Director of Heinz Simonitsch School in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where she provides strategic and operational leadership across early childhood, primary and secondary education, including sixth form and pre-university programmes. Her leadership is grounded in institutional transformation, academic development, organisational effectiveness and the creation of learning environments that prepare students for an increasingly dynamic world.
Mrs. McKenzie also serves as President of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA), having been re-elected for the 2025–2027 term. In this capacity, she provides leadership and advocacy on matters affecting independent education, stakeholder engagement, education policy and the advancement of quality education nationally. She is also a Director of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a position she has held since 2022, contributing to private-sector development and regional economic advancement.
Her professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from The University of the West Indies and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, with a focus on Digital Marketing. She is also pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) through the University of London.
A Justice of the Peace for the parish of St. James, Mrs. McKenzie remains actively engaged in community development and national service. Her professional interests include education governance, strategic leadership, institutional resilience, human capital development and the responsible integration of innovation and technology in education.
She is guided by a belief that strong institutions, purposeful leadership and equitable access to quality education are essential to Jamaica’s continued development.