Lorraine Stobie with her award.
Lorraine Stobie, the inspirational headteacher of Southcraig School in Ayr, is top of the class as she claimed a top accolade at the Scottish Education Awards 2012.
She collected the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the award ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow to honour her 35-year career devoted to local children and young people.
Lorraine started work at Craigpark School as an instructor, having qualified as a nursery nurse, and has committed her professional life to local children as Headteacher of Craigpark school and now as Headteacher of Southcraig school, the amalgamated Craigpark and Southpark schools.
Lorraine is a champion of South Ayrshire's most vulnerable children and is a highly skilled practitioner in the field of complex additional support needs. Her expertise in improving learning experiences for children and young people with complex needs is called upon regularly throughout South Ayrshire. She willingly supports families and schools in her own time to enable them to meet the needs of local children and young people.
Southcraig School provides a high quality education to pupils with
complex and multiple impairments. Pupils' many achievements are regularly celebrated and teaching staff develop students' personal and social skills, confidence and self-esteem.
Lorraine fights to ensure, all children are included in their local schools and communities and has raised thousands of pounds for her schools and children's charities such as CHAS, UNICEF and Yorkhill Children's Foundation.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell said:
"I regularly visit schools and speak with teachers and I know there is much excellence, professionalism, dedication and success in our schools from both pupils, parents and professionals alike. This good work is ongoing throughout the year and is widespread across education in Scotland.
"The Annual Scottish Education Awards offer a great opportunity for us to step back and take the time to reward those individuals and schools that have been nominated for their achievements. I would like to take this chance to congratulate all of those that have been nominated for the awards and particularly, those that achieved success in this year's awards.
Councillor Margaret Toner, Lifelong Learning Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said:
"I am delighted that Lorraine Stobie, Head Teacher at South Ayrshire Council's South Craig Campus has won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Education Awards 2012.
"Lorraine has devoted herself to improving the quality of life of some of the most vulnerable children in South Ayrshire, always putting the needs of her pupils, staff and parents first which has led to outstanding achievements by the pupils.
"Driving forward the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence is a challenge that Lorraine has relished. In her usual enthusiastic manner she has embraced new ways in which to ensure pupils with complex additional support needs gain the life skills they need to make them as independent as possible and absorb knowledge in a fun way at school.
"Lorraine has dedicated 35 years of her professional life to the special schools sector, leading by example and finding time to support others. During her leisure time Lorraine has raised tens of thousands of pounds for her school and children's charities.
"To be held in such high regard by the entire education community is recognition for all Lorraine's hard work."
The Scottish Education Awards are open to all publicly funded schools and provide the opportunity to showcase the hard work and achievements of all education staff in Scotland. There are categories to recognise and reward the dedication of teachers, head-teachers and support staff across the country.
For further information visit www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk