Lighting an educational fire, Blackboard Awards 2023
The 2023 Blackboard Awards took place on the evening of February 3rd at the Europa Hotel. Schools are the spine of a successful Belfast — and in no small part, that is down to the unstinting commitment of our teachers to ensure that every pupil reaches his or her full potential. In the classrooms of Belfast, every child is a champion — and every teacher is a leader, encouraging each of their charges to set their sights ever-higher. For our honourees, education is very much about firing up the imagination and sparking a lifelong thirst for learning. With the Blackboard Awards, we give the community an opportunity to spotlight the amazing endeavour of our teachers and to thank them for a job well-done. The 11th annual Blackboard Awards gave you a chance to recognise the teaching stalwarts who embody the very best of Belfast. We welcomed nominations for teaching assistants, teachers, principals, and support staff at our schools. In this uncertain time, all deserve our praise. #BlackboardawardsGuest Speaker
Koulla Yiasouma, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People
Meet the TEACHERS OF THE YEAR 2023
Meet the teachers of the year 2023
In the best of times, being a teacher requires resilience, patience, humour, genius and compassion. In a global pandemic, it also takes guts and grit. And that’s what the teachers of Belfast have in spades.
Karen Batchelor, Wheatfield Primary School
Alastair Goddard, Malone College
Michael Preston, Loughshore EOTAS
Aisling Farrell, Edmund Rice College
Pamela Jones, Belvoir Park Primary School
John Hughes, All Saints College, Belfast
Kathy Owens, Holy Cross Girls' PS
Lorraine Walker, All Saints College
David Jackson, Integrated College Glengormley
Nicola Fegan, St. Paul's Primary School and Nursery Unit
Seaneen Heaney, St Maria Goretti NS
Sharon Sames, Integrated College Glengormley
Rebecca Morris, Sacred Heart Boys' Primary School
Natalie Clark, Integrated College Glengormley
Grainne Gill, Coláiste Feirste
Carla Dowey, Integrated College Glengormley
Kellie McAleese, St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School
Aine Duffy, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste
James Curran, Harberton School and Outreach Services
Kevin Trainor, Edmund Rice College
Fiona Keegan, St Kevin's Primary School
Lorraine Cheadle, St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School
Alicia Gillespie, Hazelwood Integrated College
Lisa Jane Rodgers, St Louise's Comprehensive College Belfast
Stacey Wilkinson, Donegall Road Primary School
Emma Power, St Louise’s Comprehensive College
Paul Woods, St. Louise's Comprehensive College
Suchitra Surendra Varma, Methodist College Belfast
Liza Osborne, Springfield PS
Collette McCaffrey, St. John the Baptist Primary School
Patricia McShane, St Vincent's Centre
Estelle Nic Eoin, Coláiste Feirste
Mary Uí Dhaimhín, Coláiste Feirste
Marina Fitzsimons, Cathedral Nursery School
Lisa McCrystal, St John the Baptist
Tara Ní Neill, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin
Francis Murphy, St Ita’s Primary School
Adrian McCrystal, St John the Baptist
Lorraine Brunty, St.Michael’s Nursery School
Orla Duncan, Wheatfield Primary School
