Teachers' awards
Teachers' Awards
Recognising outstanding service in the classroom
The Institute of Physics regularly presents awards to teachers of Physics (at secondary level) in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The award is to recognise outstanding service in the classroom in the teaching of Physics.
If you have a teacher in your school, or are aware of such a teacher whom you feel would deserve such an award please contact:
Gita Tailor
Project Co-ordinator School Affiliation
Gita.Tailor@iop.org
Latest Award Winners
Margaret Hutton, the assistant principal teacher of physics at George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh, was praised for her passion for her subject and described as “an inspirational teacher for both pupils and colleagues”. Her citation adds: “She is always supportive and has a unique personality – on the one hand dynamic and persuasive, on the other reassuring and encouraging. Her breadth of ability and intellect is impressive, and she delivers the curriculum in an exciting, relevant and accessible manner.”
Charles Buchan, the principal teacher of physics at Fraserburgh Academy, Aberdeenshire, was described as “an inspirational physics teacher”. He was recognized for his “exciting and relevant” lessons and for enthusiastically supporting his colleagues within and beyond the school. His citation adds: “He is a highly respected member of the community in which he teaches and has consistently provided and quality learning experience for all pupils in his care in a supportive, considerate and stimulating manner.”
Michael McVey – Teacher’s Award
Members of the Scottish Physics teaching community were delighted to hear that the IoP had chosen to give Michael McVey a Teacher’s Award. These awards are given to teachers in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the teaching of the subject. In this respect Michael has given a very great deal over a great many years. He has only recently retired from long service as Principal Teacher of Physics at Lourdes Secondary School, where tributes from pupils showed particular appreciation of his lively lessons, his wit and humour, and his approachability.
Michael not only stood out in the classroom but is also a moving spirit in the work of the West of Scotland Physics Education Group. During his tenure as chairman of WoSPEG he had innovatory ideas for broadening links between Physics teachers and commerce as well as running the schools Physics quiz.
He is currently the driving force, as chairman, behind the group responsible for organising the much appreciated annual Stirling Teachers’ Meeting. It is Michael’s steady work behind the scenes and his good humoured management of the individuals making up the team that have ensured the continuing success of this event.
This is a well-earned tribute for Michael to take with him into what looks like being a very active and involved retirement, and the physics community congratulates him on it.
Gemmell Millar and Ian Taylor
Ronna Montgomery
In the Institute’s guidelines on its Teachers Awards are the words “Remember that all the teachers nominated for awards are very good teachers. The Selection Panel is looking for those who are outstanding.” When the said panel read the papers supporting the nomination of Ronna Montgomery for an award, they probably did not have to deliberate for long. All the criteria were well and truly met: evidence of outstanding teacher of physics; evidence of how they have inspired pupils and colleagues; evidence of how they have made physics exciting and relevant; evidence of effort beyond the call of duty; evidence of coping with frequently revised curricula.
Ronna started teaching physics 33 years ago, and is currently a senior teacher of physics at Bearsden Academy. Those simple statements give little clue as to the extent of the expertise and experience that Ronna has to offer nor the range and the scale of activities in which Ronna is engaged at the school and beyond. Current and former colleagues talk of her dedication, her inspirational qualities, her willingness to go the extra mile to ensure that pupils achieve to the very best of their abilities, her ability to put across difficult concepts in varieties of ways, her skill in producing her own quality resources and her willingness to incorporate into her teaching new and innovative resources devised elsewhere, . Her classroom is described as ‘an industrious hive of activity where she delivers the curriculum in an exciting, relevant and industrious manner. ….. its walls covered in pupils’ project materials or spectacular physics images.’ Her students’ exam results are said to be second to none.
Beyond the physics lab, Ronna serves on the whole school Learning and Teaching Committee where in it deliberations and her feedback to colleagues her ability to cut through educational jargon and to explain in clear and concise terms the purpose of various activities are much appreciated. With a colleague, Ronna has been deeply involved over many years in school theatre productions. ‘Enthusiastic, passionate and forceful in everything she believes in , she was determined to deliver the best shows in Scotland!’ Ronna is also a marker of Advanced Higher investigations and has frequently written for TESS and other educational journals.
In addition to all this, Ronna is the Institute’s Teacher Network Co-ordinator for the Greater Glasgow area. Network co-ordinators devote the equivalent of half a day a week of their own time to supporting other physics teachers in their areas. For any co-ordinator, this is a major commitment but when one considers what proportion of Scottish physics teachers work in the Greater Glasgow area, one realizes that Ronna must be outstanding to achieve all that she does. She seems to know at least half of those in her catchment area – and few have not heard of her! There is not space here to do full justice to all her achievements.
Ronna is an excellent co-ordinator, but her heart is in her teaching and with those who are in her charge and those who work alongside her. When it was known that Ronna was to be nominated for an award, there was no shortage of people wishing to add supportive statements – colleagues within and outwith the Science Faculty, student teachers, technicians past and present, students past and present (to whom she is affectionately known as ‘Mrs M’) and grateful parents.
Let the final words be those if one of her sixth year students: ‘Mrs. M. is one cool teacher!’
Pictures from the event:
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Martin Cunningham
Principal Teacher of Physics at Kirkcaldy High School in Fife
"At the Institute awards ceremony in January 2007, Martin Cunningham, Principal Teacher of Physics at Kirkcaldy High School in Fife, was presented with the Institute's Teacher award. Martin lives in St. Andrews and went to school at Madras College, where he was inspired to teach physics by his then physics teacher, Miss McWilliams. He went on to obtain a degree in Physical Science and Chemistry and a Post Graduate certificate at Northern College, Aberdeen. Martin's teaching career includes periods at Auchmuty High, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy High and Kirkland High schools in Fife.
Pupils and staff from his former schools as well as his present school were quick to offer words of support for Martin. Former Head Boy Maaz Syed, now studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, describes how Martin picked up quickly after the sudden retirement of their Advanced Higher teacher: "Mr Cunningham took full responsibility of our class, despite he, himself having a full timetable, and at a time during which the physics department was desperately short of teachers".
This is fairly typical of Martin, who has become known as much for his resourcefulness as his commitment to his students. He is able to wheeler-deal equipment from other schools for AH investigations as timely as he drops beautiful colour printed pupil booklets onto a teacher's desk a day (or sometimes a minute!) before they are needed.
Other pupils talk of his infectious passion for physics which characterizes his lessons. I had been thinking of his impersonation of the Hydrogen pop after talking to a group about the Helium Flash which occurs in certain stars. This was transformed in the nomination to Martin's "famous Helium pop", which was repeated in newspapers across the land. I'm just glad that I didn't write it as his famous "Hydrogen Flash".
Martin is known for his science text, used in Primary schools to support teachers with his hallmark bright coloured pictures and clear, concise explanations. He is working hard at the moment to ensure the students are gaining in confidence and ability as they prepare for exams: he is available every lunchtime, after school and even during the school holidays for any young person needing help, support or guidance. Martin cares for the people in his charge: he has taken extraordinary steps to support staff through illness and difficulty and has encouraged experienced staff, student teachers and probationers to be the best they can, sometimes with a simple, "Go for it!". Sean Duffy, our current physics probationer, has been nominated for the national probationer teacher of the year on his own merits but it no small part encouraged by Martin Cunningham. Our school is lucky to have Martin as PT Physics, a principled man who stands his ground based upon what is right for the children. It's what drives him." - Nick Hood
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