Teacher believes in building character, leadership skills
Wright one of 21 winners of award from the Loran Scholar’s Foundation
A local high school teacher is one of a handful of recipients to receive an award that honours teachers for their hard work with students in building their character.
Darrell Wright, a coach and outdoor leadership teacher at Adam Scott Collegiate, was surprised to find out he had been nominated for the award from the Loran Scholar’s Foundation let alone won the award that few teachers have won.
This year, only 21 teachers across Canada received the Loran Scholars Foundation’s Teachers Building Leaders Award presented to outstanding teachers who have gone above and beyond in their scholastic duties to students.
Teachers are nominated for the award by students who have previously won the Loran Scholar, which is awarded to students based on character, service and leadership.
Wright, who has worked for Adam Scott for 20 years, was nominated by former student Max Moloney, a student-athlete he had taught and coached in several sports and outdoor leadership classes.
Moloney has since graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, where he finished his undergraduate degree in life sciences.
“I was happy to have the opportunity to recognize my teacher, Mr. Wright, for all the things he has done for me,” he said, “not just me, but for the whole Adam Scott and Peterborough community.”
Wright said it is an honour to be able to share the award with such a great student.
“He was a great well-rounded example of a student and an incredible young man involved in athletics, student council and school life,” Wright said. “It is pretty special to be nominated by him and be part of his successful academic career path.”
Moloney said one of the reasons why he nominated Wright for the award is because he has been able to practice what he preaches not only in academics, but also in the way he means what he says.
The reason he looks up to Wright is because outdoor leadership is something not many people can teach, Moloney said.
“Also, through his own interactions and life and the way he carries himself as a head coach and an assistant coach on the field, he practises what he preaches,” Moloney said.
Wright said he hopes to continue to be a positive influence on students in the future and the award affirms the importance of working with students on leadership skills for now and the future.
“I hope to be able to have a positive influence on the students and athletes I work with and I hope to continue that in my career,” Wright said.