Previous Learning Professional Award Winners

Stephen Leitch works as a school librarian across two high schools, Keith Grammar School and Buckie High School, as well as a number of cluster primary schools. Stephen was nominated for this award for his devotion to the development of reading and literacy amongst young people. As well as having a great knowledge of contemporary children's books and an uncanny ability to give the perfect recommendation, Stephen holds that rare and special ability to connect with each and every pupil that he works with. Stephen's hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm continue to have a lasting impact on the young people of Moray, inspiring them to see themselves as readers and transforming attitudes towards books and literacy.

Haley Milne is a school librarian working across three high schools as well as cluster primary schools in South Ayrshire. Haley was nominated for her unwavering dedication to the development of reading and literacy in young people across the local authority. She was a driving force behind the implementation of Read Woke in South Aryshire, which has had an impact not just on the engagement of young people with books and reading, but also on their empathy and the way they view the world. Haley's libraries are described as welcoming, vibrant, safe havens that function as the heart of the schools that Haley works in, partly due to the relationships that she cultivates with her pupils. She's been recognised for her contagious positivity and inspiring commitment to providing dynamic, inclusive reading experiences for the young people of South Ayrshire.

Vicky McCauley is a class teacher at Carnock Primary School in Dunfermline. She was nominated by her Depute Head Teacher for her devotion to literacy and reading throughout the school. As well as introducing Reading Ambassadors to the school, Vicky has led projects celebrating dyslexic learners, and delivered a block of teaching on comedy writing to inspire a more meaningful and enthusiastic approach to writing. She supported her students as they wrote their own sets, which they then performed for an audience at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh. Vicky has been highly commended particularly for her innovation, creativity, enthusiasm and inclusivity.

Irene arrived at Armadale Academy in August 2021 and has already introduced several initiatives which have had a huge impact on the school. Pupils have become a lot more engaged with their reading in recent months due to Irene's enthusiasm and passion. Irene's colleagues say that her astounding knowledge of literature knows no bounds, built up over many years as a librarian at her previous school Calderhead High. Irene always knows exactly what to recommend to pupils, and makes pupils feel safe with her thanks to her generosity and thoughtfulness.

Jill is fully committed to making a difference to the lives of the pupils she teaches and she firmly believes that developing a love for books is at the heart of this. She has attended extensive training and has been passionate about developing the skills of all staff members and leading many initiatives within school. Jill decided to open the school library as a child and adult lending library, welcoming in the local community who were unable to visit a local library. This has been an incredible success, with pupils thriving in the role of librarian and sharing their love of reading with their families.

Claire has gone above and beyond to rejuvinate the Coatbridge High School library and reposition the library as a popular and vibrant hub within the school. She trained pupils as librarians to give them a sense of responsibility and pride over the library space, and she set up numerous clubs and events, all on top of her role as English Teacher. Through her hard work and dedication, Claire has created a safe and welcoming environment for all of the pupils at Coatbridge.

Lorraine Napier is Principal Teacher at Bankhead Primary School, and is described by colleagues as the ‘Bankhead Laureate’. Under Lorraine’s guidance, Primary 7 pupils have been recognised in the Glasgow Lord Provost Poetry Competition for three years running. Thanks to Lorraine’s efforts the library has a fantastic stock, including dual language books from 18 countries. Lorraine provides support for her colleagues, delivering training and mentoring probationers. She has been particularly successful at engaging the local community, providing workshops for parents and carers to enhance their reading skills. Local volunteers praised the paired reading project led by Lorraine and her colleague Ann Douglas, which pairs pupils with parents and grandparents of other children in the school for reading sessions. The programme has had a profound impact on reulactant readers and the volunteers themselves.

Described as the “bookend” of Dunfermline High School’s reading culture, Emma is an incredibly passionate and creative member of staff, known for her beautiful reading displays and an infectious love of reading which has inspired even the most reluctant of readers. Emma leads an enthusiastic team of pupil reading ambassadors who arrange competitions, events and more to promote a love of reading in school. Her work expands beyond just the pupils she teaches, through arranging community events with families, and ensuring that staff across the school engage with the First Ministers Reading Challenge and create a reading culture at school.

Sheila's remit at Craigroyston Primary School is to work with a small number of pupils as a Pupil Support Assistant, but her impact goes throughout the school. She runs a fantastic library with creative book displays, which are constantly updated and a talking point of the whole school.

Emily is an inspirational teacher who has gone "above and beyond" to excite a generation of readers at Bankton Primary. She introduced a range of workshops which empower parents to help their children with reading at home, in addition to programmes for pupils such as Breakfast Club Reading and Playground Reading Buddies.

Emma works over the whole of Clackmannanshire across 18 primary schools to help them create their own individual reading cultures. By focusing on training staff, she has made a very large impact. For example, schools have introduced projects such as dedicated reading time, buddy reading, and events to celebrate books in school.

Shelagh is the librarian at Elgin Academy, and has worked tirelessly to develop an inclusive reading culture at the school. Her initiatives included author visits, themed library weeks, new clubs and monthly book talks which inspired pupils to seek out new reading material.

Claire is the Curriculum Leader of Support for Learning at Wester Hailes Education Centre, and has dedicated herself to making reading accessible for everyone. Claire set up a paired reading programme for S1 and S6 pupils to develop their confidence and has led many school-wide writing projects.