Having a successful academic institution means allowing for both the teachers and parents to contribute to the success of the students and the institution as a whole.

That’s the view of Former Head Mistress and one of the founders of St. Martin De Porres. Speaking on PM Express Personality Friday, she says “it isn’t just the teacher’s attitude in the school that makes a school. The teachers’ attitude and the interaction of the school and the parents also contribute to the success of the school…to create a comfortable environment”

St. Martin De Porres  was founded in 1973 by both Mr. William K. Laast and Mrs. Florence Laast. Named after a Black compassionate and loving Saint, Mrs. Laast developed St. Martin De Porres with the purpose of creating a comfortable second home for her students.

"For you to get a place where the children will be happy and take it as a second home, the three elements have to work together, the home, the school, and the teachers. When they work in harmony, there is this friendly interaction and each party is able to express themselves,” says Mrs. Laast.

Mrs. Laast who after Secondary school received a British Council Scholarship, which took her to the UK where she was trained at a Teacher’s College in Child and Community Development, at Northwestern Polytechnic, in Baker street, London before returning back to Ghana to implement the theories she extracted from the education she had obtained.

The school, which was built in Dansoman was created to provide education for the flood victims within the region. Approached by a Personnel from the State House Incorporation, both Mrs. Laast and her husband, Mr. Laast were informed on the issue of a lack and need of education facilities within the region.

“It took us a few weeks to discuss the issue, and we realized that we actually have to provide a school for [the] community… I had to sell my car and some items belonging to the family, we also organized a fun fair… my Mother and Sister were [also] able to give us some money so that we can pay for the land”, said Mrs. Laast

The first block of the St. Martin De Porres consisted of one office, three classrooms and six toilets. At the time there were four teachers and seventeen students, which were in kindergarten, class one or class two. Today, there are ninety-three teaching and non- teaching staff, and the institution educates over 1000 students.