Help honour a teaching hero with a Golden Apples award
RECOGNISE CHAMPIONS OF EDUCATION
THE time has come for you to recognise some of the many people working tirelessly in education across Hull and the East Riding and to show them how much their endeavours matter.
The Hull Daily Mail’s annual Golden Apples Awards, now in its eighth year, presents the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and give thanks for the efforts of those whose talent, skills and hard work go into providing education in Hull and the East Riding.
They are not about Ofsted ratings or Key Stages, they are about the people who drive our education forward, who inspire, support, cajole and cultivate the talent that offers so much for the future.
One previous winner of a Golden Apple has explained why a nomination for the awards means so much.
Dean Reacher, who received the Unsung Hero accolade in December 2019, said: “People are going about their daily lives, doing their daily jobs, because they have a passion or it’s something they believe strongly in.
“They don’t do it for any thanks but, on the flipside of that, if they do get recognised for going over and above, it can make their day, their month and even their year and encourages them to continue.
“I would say if someone thinks there is a person out there who deserves nominating, they should do it because it could make such a difference to that person.”
Dean, who is head of Year 11 and a PE teacher at The Marvell College,
in Barham Road, Hull, said it was a huge surprise when he was announced as the winner of his Golden Apple.
“I wasn’t expecting it one bit,” he said. “The awards were a great event. A couple of students came with us who were part of the holiday club we’d been running, and the head of department and my partner attended.
“The atmosphere was lovely and it was inspiring learning about what all the other people who were receiving awards had been doing as well.”
Dean was recognised for giving up to three days per week every school holiday to be there for students who might otherwise have nowhere to go or be unable to have a square meal.
The judges called it a “remarkable sacrifice” that showed how much Dean cared for his students.
Working closely with Andrew Marvell Youth Club, the project began in 2018 with Dean and a small team of volunteers at the helm, providing everything from Djing and dance to sports and baking.
Dean said: “It was more of a drop-in for child protection, but we thought, we have a fabulous building with fantastic facilities, we could do more.”
When Dean spoke to the Mail not long after the Golden Apples Awards, he had spent his final holiday Monday before Christmas putting on a meal at the school, doing crafts and giving out selection boxes to some who may not otherwise have had a square meal on the special day.
Earlier this year, Dean visited Downing Street with Paul Martin, assistant headteacher at The Marvell College, and was thanked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for ensuring pupils received laptops during lockdown so they could continue with their education remotely, as well as supporting children during holiday periods.
Dean said: “That was a super day and something I will always remember.”
The pandemic had proved a challenge for staff and pupils, he said, but students and teachers has “responded remarkably” and deserved a pat on the back.
Paul Marshall, operations director of Sewell Facilities Management, headline sponsor of the Golden Apples Awards 2021, said: “We are incredibly proud to be the lead sponsor of the Golden Apples Awards once again, especially this year.
“Education is fundamental in shaping children and young people’s futures, and professionals across the sector go the extra mile every day to bring out the best in their students.
“When the world stopped, education couldn’t, and the summer’s GCSE and A-level results are testament to all education professionals who have continued to ensure they provide the same quality education to allow their pupils to succeed in light of every challenge the pandemic has posed. “These awards are a fantastic way to shine a light on individual and team efforts and achievements - I cannot wait to recognise and celebrate each and every one of them.”
The Golden Apples Awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday, December 8, at Hull’s MKM Stadium, from 11.30am.
If someone thinks there is a person who deserves nominating, they should do it because it could make such a difference to them
Dean Reacher