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Lighting an educational fire, Blackboard Awards 2023

  Previous Awards Gallery

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. #Blackboardawards 

Guest Speaker

Koulla Yiasouma, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People

Koulla Yiasouma (right) at St Genevieve's College annual prize night with Orlaigh Strong

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

Karen Batchelor, Wheatfield Primary School

Alastair Goddard, Malone College

Alastair Goddard, Malone College

Michael Preston, Loughshore EOTAS

Michael Preston, Loughshore EOTAS

Aisling Farrell, Edmund Rice College

Aisling Farrell, Edmund Rice College

Pamela Jones, Belvoir Park Primary School

Pamela Jones, Belvoir Park Primary School

John Hughes, All Saints College, Belfast

John Hughes, All Saints College, Belfast

Kathy Owens, Holy Cross Girls' PS

Kathy Owens, Holy Cross Girls' PS

Lorraine Walker, All Saints College

Lorraine Walker, All Saints College

David Jackson, Integrated College Glengormley

David Jackson, Integrated College Glengormley

Nicola Fegan, St. Paul's Primary School and Nursery Unit

Nicola Fegan, St. Paul's Primary School and Nursery Unit

Seaneen Heaney, St Maria Goretti NS

Seaneen Heaney, St Maria Goretti NS

Sharon Sames, Integrated College Glengormley

Sharon Sames, Integrated College Glengormley

Rebecca Morris, Sacred Heart Boys' Primary School

Rebecca Morris, Sacred Heart Boys' Primary School

Natalie Clark, Integrated College Glengormley

Natalie Clark, Integrated College Glengormley

Grainne Gill, Coláiste Feirste

Grainne Gill, Coláiste Feirste

Carla Dowey, Integrated College Glengormley

Carla Dowey, Integrated College Glengormley

Kellie McAleese,  St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School

Kellie McAleese,  St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School

Aine Duffy, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste

Aine Duffy, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste

James Curran, Harberton School and Outreach Services

James Curran, Harberton School and Outreach Services

Kevin Trainor, Edmund Rice College

Kevin Trainor, Edmund Rice College

Fiona Keegan, St Kevin's Primary School

Fiona Keegan, St Kevin's Primary School

Lorraine Cheadle, St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School

Lorraine Cheadle, St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School

Alicia Gillespie, Hazelwood Integrated College

Alicia Gillespie, Hazelwood Integrated College

Lisa Jane Rodgers, St Louise's Comprehensive College Belfast

Lisa Jane Rodgers, St Louise's Comprehensive College Belfast

Stacey Wilkinson, Donegall Road Primary School

Stacey Wilkinson, Donegall Road Primary School

Emma Power, St Louise’s Comprehensive College

Emma Power, St Louise’s Comprehensive College

Paul Woods, St. Louise's Comprehensive College

Paul Woods, St. Louise's Comprehensive College

Suchitra Surendra Varma, Methodist College Belfast

Suchitra Surendra Varma, Methodist College Belfast

Liza Osborne, Springfield PS

Liza Osborne, Springfield PS

Collette McCaffrey, St. John the Baptist Primary School

Collette McCaffrey, St. John the Baptist Primary School

Patricia McShane, St Vincent's Centre

Patricia McShane, St Vincent's Centre

Estelle Nic Eoin, Coláiste Feirste

Estelle Nic Eoin, Coláiste Feirste

Mary Uí Dhaimhín, Coláiste Feirste

Mary Uí Dhaimhín, Coláiste Feirste

Marina Fitzsimons, Cathedral Nursery School

Marina Fitzsimons, Cathedral Nursery School

Lisa McCrystal, St John the Baptist

Lisa McCrystal, St John the Baptist

Tara Ní Neill, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin

Tara Ní Neill, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin

Francis Murphy, St Ita’s Primary School

Francis Murphy, St Ita’s Primary School

Adrian McCrystal, St John the Baptist

Adrian McCrystal, St John the Baptist

Lorraine Brunty, St.Michael’s Nursery School

Lorraine Brunty, St.Michael’s Nursery School

Orla Duncan, Wheatfield Primary School

Orla Duncan, Wheatfield Primary School

Seanna Fitzsimons, Gaelscoil na Móna

Seanna Fitzsimons, Gaelscoil na Móna