A Harrogate teacher is on the shortlist for one of teaching’s most prestigious awards.
Aimee Jackson, who teaches at Henshaws Specialist College in Harrogate, has been shortlisted for the Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education in the Pearson Teaching Awards.
Aimee, who is Programme Leader for Starting Point, the College’s specialist autism unit, is just one of five shortlisted entrants in her category and will find out next month if she is a winner.
She said: “It is my pleasure and privilege to work at Henshaws Specialist College and I am humbled to be nominated for the Pearson Teaching Awards. I gain a huge amount of satisfaction when the students I work with make progress towards a more independent life, no matter how small the steps are. I am proud of all my students and their achievements and admire the staff team that I work with for their dedication and commitment.”
Deputy Principal Lisa Hart said: “Aimee teaches with respect and integrity for each one of her students. She knows their full potential and makes it her aim to ensure that the students know their potential too. She is the champion for teaching autistic adults and she enables us to see outstanding teaching every day.
“Aimee is an advocate for each student who attends our college, particularly those students with profound challenges. She is our ambassador for autism awareness and ensures we are all using best practice at all times.
“She reminds us every day that we have the honour to work with the best students that education can offer. She leads by example and the respect that her staff and students hold for her is apparent throughout the college.”
Aimee has worked at Henshaws for 17 years and took a lead role when Starting Point was established three years ago to educate, care and support students with more profound autistic needs. Lisa Hart said: Aimee’s team’s outcomes may range from a student making eye contact to working in a café for their work experience placement. For Aimee, each outcome is of equal importance and requires the same amount of dedication and support.”
The Pearson Teaching Awards are organised by The Teaching Awards Trust, established in 1998 by David, Lord Puttnam CBE, as a means of recognising and celebrating excellence in education across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Awards honour outstanding teachers and teaching.
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