Monrovia, Liberia — The Professional Educators Association of Liberia (PEAL) has announced a major leadership transition following its General Meeting held on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Ala Lagun Resort in Congo Town.
At the meeting, Dr. Charles Gbollie officially assumed office as President of PEAL, succeeding Dr. Cecelia Cassell, who resigned after her appointment as Executive Director of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE). Members of the Association paid glowing tribute to Dr. Cassell for what they described as her astute and visionary leadership, which helped strengthen PEAL’s institutional foundation and advance its professional advocacy agenda.
In a move aimed at ensuring continuity and inclusive leadership, the General Assembly also endorsed Ms. Naomi Marjay Gboyah as Acting Vice President and Mrs. Gbimah Bahtokpah as Spokesperson. The Association further retained its Lead Founder, Dr. M. Blonkanjay Jackson, as Chairman of the Board, while Dr. Cassell was endorsed as a member of the Board.
Other officials endorsed into leadership positions include Lydia Amoslyn Matthews as General Secretary; Darric Dennis and Ransford S. Nimely as Chairmen of the Planning/Program and Membership Committees, respectively; and Mrs. Paulyn Passawee, who was retained as Chaplain, among others.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Gbollie reaffirmed PEAL’s vision of an education sector where quality education is improved, sustained, and aligned with global standards. He stressed that professionalism, accountability, and evidence-based engagement would be central to the new leadership’s approach to transforming Liberia’s education system.
Dr. Gbollie further emphasized PEAL’s mission to harness and utilize the skills of educators through professionalization, advocacy, and responsible leadership to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. He pledged to work collaboratively with the Board, members, and development partners to strengthen the Association’s relevance, effectiveness, and national impact.
As part of its renewed strategic focus, PEAL plans to intensify efforts to protect and enhance the education system, unite professional educators around shared goals, and advocate for the full participation of qualified educators in education governance and decision-making. The Association will also continue to champion improved working conditions for educators, promote teacher licensing and career progression, support school standardization, and expand capacity-building initiatives, data-driven solutions, and research-informed advocacy.
During deliberations, Board member Dr. Benjamin Wehye challenged the Association to move beyond verbal advocacy to documentation-driven and pragmatic strategies capable of delivering measurable results. His call, participants noted, aligns with PEAL’s commitment to innovative best practices, policy-informed research, and strategic collaboration with local and international education and research institutions.
PEAL reaffirmed its dedication to advancing professional standards, strengthening policy engagement, and advocating for the full implementation of Liberia’s education laws and international commitments, including Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4), inclusive education, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
With renewed leadership and a shared sense of purpose, the Association says it looks forward to working closely with educators, policymakers, and partners to elevate the teaching profession and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of Liberia’s education sector.
