Anne is described as ‘one in a million’ by parents of her pupils, and
Teaching Awards Panel Members agreed she is undoubtedly special. During her
teacher training she was named as student of the year by her college, and since
she arrived at St John the Baptist Primary School 13 years ago she has continued
to live up to this standard of excellence.
Anne’s enjoyment and love of literacy and learning is transmitted like magic
to the children. Her larger than life personality drives the class at a pace
that is exciting yet manageable. She is constantly trying to build the
self-confidence and self-esteem of her pupils and encourages them to take risks
to learn. Her ‘have a go’ books are an essential tool in her classroom.
Children love being in her class and respond positively to the challenges she
puts before them. Anne has the uncanny ability to reach even the most
disaffected learners, nurturing and stretching children at a pace appropriate to
each of them. As one of her former pupils says, ‘She makes learning fun, not
boring!’
Around the school she is a vibrant presence, taking part in a huge range of
extra curricular activities including drama and computer after-school clubs,
festival preparations, school choir, Christmas productions and carol services.
She has also devised a very successful cross border project with a school in
Wexford in which the children co-wrote a book of short stores using e-mail to
share their ideas and text. Her enthusiasm and her attention to detail during
this project was second to none and this is the hallmark stamped on everything
she does – from lesson preparation to marking, from classroom displays to the
creation of costumes for plays and performances.
Anne was nominated by a parent. Two years ago the parent’s son was diagnosed
with a tumour on the brain and two tumours on the spine. She wrote: ‘It was as
if my world had come to an end overnight. My son was confined to a wheelchair.
But Anne organised a laptop computer and it was a godsend. Both my son’s
classmates and Anne emailed him every day and in this way he kept in touch. She
organised many activities for him, including a Christmas carol service at our
home, a school stars in their eyes competition, trips to the cinema and a party.
When my son was receiving chemo he was only at school a few mornings a week, but
Anne reorganised her school timetable to coincide with his attendance so he
could take part with his classmates in many events and lessons.
I could write a book on the ways she has been wonderful to my son. She is loving
and dedicated, a born teacher and a wonderful woman.’
Mr
Donal Flanagan, Chief Executive of CCMS, presents Miss McGuinness with
a commemorative award to mark her achievement of winning the N.
Ireland Primary School Teacher of the Year.
