OUR STORIES

Taneshia Stoney Dryden, who stepped into her new role as CEO of Christel House Jamaica on July 1, is grateful for her grandparents, saying, “I think they’d be proud.” Affectionately known as Stoney, she credits her grandparents’ strong values and belief in education as the foundation that led her to this moment. “Education was always our vehicle for upward mobility,” she reflects. With over 12 years of experience in community development, project management, and fundraising—including serving as CEO of United Way of Jamaica—Stoney now leads Christel House Jamaica as the school prepares to open its high school in September.

Stoney’s journey has been defined by resilience and determination. Born to a teenage mother, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, who instilled both discipline and love. Their home, filled with family and neighbors every Sunday, gave her a deep appreciation for community. After earning a BSc in Sociology and Psychology and an MSc in Sociology, Social Policy, and Development from the University of the West Indies, she began her career at the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, rising from a temporary worker to senior social officer. Later, she took on leadership roles at the MultiCare Youth Foundation and United Way of Jamaica, where mentors encouraged her to lead with authenticity and heart.

For Stoney, success is defined by lifting others. “It’s not one-size-fits-all,” she says. “For me, success was being the sibling who helped others through high school, and one through university. I was also the first on my mother’s side to earn a degree.” She sees the same potential in Christel House students, each with their own journey and definition of achievement. Recalling her own schooling, Stoney attributes her educational success to teachers who saw her potential. One of her teachers, Ms. Gayle, bought her lunch every day, knowing Stoney’s family could only afford to provide her with bus fare. “Hunger impairs learning,” she says, “and Ms. Gayle understood that.”

Guided by her belief in the power of manifestation and the saying, “There is power in the tongue,” Stoney believes in speaking things into being and then working hard to turn them into reality. She’s ready to lead Christel House Jamaica with bold spirit, grounded wisdom, and a deep love for people, helping students dream big and achieve even more.