Teacher wins national award

A Palmerston North teacher has been recognised for his dedication to helping struggling children learn.

Carl Mcintyre, a teacher at Cornerstone School in Palmerston North, was one of six leadership in education award winners at the ASG national excellence in teaching awards at Parliament on Friday and he also won the overall leadership in education award.

The recognition came after Mcintyre’s work with children who need extra help. Mcintyre is passionate about supporting students who struggle to succeed in a normal classroom environment.

He works in learning support for children with learning difficulties, tailoring support programmes for students, as well as in pastoral care and careers.

He said he was humbled to win the award, having worked with many deserving teachers in his career.

He helped remove obstacles for children with learning difficulties like dyslexia, he said. ‘‘You watch students who have little belief in their own success or ability to succeed. You watch them far outstrip their goals.’’

Mcintyre said the school’s practice was to ensure no student was left behind. He designed a screening system to find if students were having learning difficulties, and helped to create the school’s pastoral care model Life Lab, where student groups have a teacher responsible for their needs. He also looks after careers and vocational pathways for students, which includes new courses: police studies, first responders and logistics.

The parent who nominated Mcintyre said: ‘‘Carl has changed many lives. He cares about all his students, but what’s best about Carl is that he’s not afraid to be a life changer.’’

Mcintyre has worked at Cornerstone for six years and previously worked at St Peter’s College for nine years.

Each of the award winners receive a $5000 professional development grant.

‘‘You watch students who have little belief in their own success or ability to succeed. You watch them far outstrip their goals.’’ Carl Mcintyre