The Professional Educators Association of Liberia (PEAL) has announced a 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 following her presidential appointment as Executive Director of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE).
Members of the Association expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Cassell for her astute leadership, which strengthened PEAL’s institutional foundation and advanced its professional advocacy agenda.
The General Assembly also endorsed Ms. Naomi Marjay Gboyah as Acting Vice President and Mrs. Gbimah Bahtokpah as Spokesperson, reinforcing PEAL’s commitment to inclusive leadership and continuity.
To further ensure institutional stability and strategic direction, the Association retained its Lead Founder, Dr. M. Blonkanjay Jackson, as Chairman of the Board, while Dr. Cassell, the Association’s former president was endorsed as a member of the Board.
Other endorsed for the leadership of PEAL include: Lydia Amoslyn Matthews, General Secretary; Darric Dennis and Ransford S. Nimely, Chairmen on Planning/Program and memberships Committees respectively, while Mrs. Paulyn Passawee was also 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 emphasized that the new leadership will prioritize professionalism, accountability, and evidence-based engagement as core pathways to transforming Liberia’s education system.
Dr. Gbollie further underscored PEAL’s mission to harness and utilize the skills of educators through professionalization, advocacy, and responsible leadership to guarantee inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. He pledged to work collaboratively with the Board, members, and partners to strengthen PEAL’s relevance, effectiveness, and national impact.
As part of its renewed strategic focus, PEAL will 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, one of the entity’s Board members. Dr. Benjamin Wehye challenged the Association to move beyond verbal advocacy to documentation-driven, pragmatic strategies capable of delivering measurable results. This call aligns with PEAL’s commitment to innovative best practices, policy-informed research, and strategic collaboration with local and international education and research bodies.
PEAL reaffirmed its dedication to advancing professional standards, strengthening policy engagement, and advocating for the full implementation of Liberia’s education laws and international education commitments, including SDG #4, inclusive education, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
With renewed leadership and a shared sense of purpose, PEAL looks forward to working with educators, policymakers, and partners to elevate the teaching profession and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of Liberia’s education sector.
