PAT KIRBY, who teaches at Wallace Hall Academy in Thornhill, Dumfries, has been nominated for a lifetime achievement award by her head teacher.
Jim McEwan
SHE'S one of Scotland?s most dedicated teachers, whose commitment to learning goes much further than the classroom.
Pat Kirby set up a charity to secure jobs and work experience for her pupils.
Since founding the Queensberry Initiative three years ago, Pat now has more than 90 firms on board and has also helped get funding to secure the project?s future.
Pat, who teaches at Wallace Hall Academy in Thornhill, Dumfries, said: ?We want to provide the best possible chance of employment for our pupils. To do this, we work in partnership with farmers, country estates, colleges and universities to find the best possible way forward for our pupils when they leave school.?
Pat has also managed to secure funding for a minibus, which takes the children to their activities and is also offered to the wider community on a non-profit basis.
She said: ?I?ve been so thrilled with how well the charity has been received.?
As well as helping pupils into work, the scheme also employs two members of staff.
Pat?s latest venture is the establishment of a community orchard, which is led by a board of pupils working in association with local business advisers to run the growing enterprise.
Away from her first love of teaching, Pat, of Dumfries, has also shown a devotion to the overall welfare of her pupils.
She took up her first guidance post in 1992 and quickly established an open-door policy, where children who came to her were given advice and a caring shoulder to lean on.
Pat said: ?I?ve always liked to try to work with the ethos that there is much more to the job than the subject we teach.?
Tireless work and a selfless approach are just two of the reasons Pat, who has worked at the school for 22 years, has been nominated for a lifetime achievement gong at the Education Awards, in association with the Daily Record.
She said: ?To be nominated is an incredible achievement and one that I am very proud of.?
And Pat?s commitment does not finish when the school bell rings at the end of the day.
She is a founder member of Let?s Talk, a teacher stress counselling service, as well as being a member of the local Credit Union.
Despite shouldering all of this extra responsibility, she is still hailed by colleagues and pupils, past and present, as an outstanding teacher.
Pat retires in September and was nominated for the award by her head teacher Barry Graham.
Barry said: ?Pat?s extensive achievements will endure but there are many achievements still to come ? it would be fitting if this award was one of them.?
Awards up for grabs
Active Nation Award
Education Supporter of the Year
Enterprise and Employability Across Learning Award (Secondary)
Global Citizenship Award
Health and Wellbeing?Award
Lifetime Achievement
Numeracy Across Learning?Award
Probationary Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the Year
Aiming High Award
Enterprise and Employability Across Learning Award (Primary)
Gaelic Awareness Award
Head Teacher of the Year
Learning Through Technology
Literacy Across Learning Award
Parents as Partners in Learning Award
Sustainable Schools Award
? If you would like to nominate someone in one of?the categories, visit the website at www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk
? Nominations close at midnight tonight. The event will take place on June 10.
Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/dedicated-teacher-nominated-education-award-1724158
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