Strabane school staff win big at education awards night

TWO staff members from Knockavoe School in Strabane have scooped gongs at the Families First NI Education Awards.

Held at Titantic in Belfast on Sunday night, the event saw Aidan McCrossan and Anne-Marie McShane rewarded for their dedication to their craft.

Aidan McCrossan is an experienced teacher with Knockavoe currently guiding year 9/10a. He won the prestigious Teacher of the Year award.

Also winning big was Anne-Marie McShane who works in the Sunshine Room to provide nurturing support and care for the school’s most vulnerable pupils and their families. She won best Support Staff award.

The school was also highly commended in the primary school category at the awards.

Speaking to the Strabane Chronicle, Knockavoe teacher, Ciara McLaughlin said that the school was overjoyed just to be nominated and even more happy with their big wins.

Ms McLaughlin said, “We are completely overjoyed with the school’s award success. All the staff at the school are fantastic and to see Aidan McCrossan win Teacher of the Year and Anne-Marie McShane winning the award for Best Support Staff shows the amazing work being done in the school.

“They are both excellent members of staff; Aidan is a great teacher and Anne-Marie is a brilliant staff member who works a lot with our support dog Póga.”

Ms Mclaughlin added, “The awards feel like they are for the whole staff and all the hard work we do really is paying off.”