End of term for Ray after 16 special years at St Modan’s
Praise has been heaped on longserving St Modan’s headteacher Ray O’Neill following his recent retirement.
Ray became headteacher at the school in April 2011 after seven years as its depute head, meaning he worked in the old and the new school, which opened in 2008. His last official day was April 1, the final day before the Spring break.
Stirling Council said this week that over the past nine years Ray led St Modan’s through many significant developments in Scottish education, promoted the school at every opportunity and enhanced the learning experience for its young people in a variety of ways.
Ray said: “It was such a privilege to work at St Modan’s both as depute headteacher then headteacher. The school is blessed with so many wonderful young people who genuinely work hard, show care and respect for others and try always to be the best they can be, in every respect.
“I hope that in some small way my time at the school will be remembered for, at least my commitment to doing what’s right for all of our young people regardless of academic ability.
“Highlights for me include: the introduction of our annual wholeschool feast day Mass; completion of our Vocational Training Centre; the significant increase and variety of courses made available to our young people as part of our transformed mainstream curriculum; strong partnerships with local employers, Forth Valley College and parents; the refurbishment of our beautiful school library and the introduction of our school farm.
“All this and more was made possible because of the huge commitment of a fantastic staff at the school and a supportive, forward-thinking parent body.
“I am lucky to have worked with so many great colleagues and families in my time here and for that I will always be enormously grateful.
“I will miss St Modan’s but know that the school is in a very good place to continue to serve well the young people and families of Stirling, Clacks and Falkirk.
“Finally I would like to thank all in the St Modan’s community for supporting me throughout my 16 years in the school and wish them all God’s blessings. I now look forward to the new adventures which lie ahead for me as I learn to adapt to my own ‘new normal.’ Thank you once again and best wishes.”
Ray, the fifth of 15 children, graduated from St Andrew’s College, Bearsden, in 1986. He worked abroad for seven years, with posts in Abu Dhabi and Kenya, before returning to the UK in 1994.
After heading to the Isle of Skye to take on a role at Portree High, he had spells at schools in Glasgow prior to taking up a post at Stirling High (1996-1999).
In August 1999, he was seconded from Stirling High to work in BP Grangemouth in their education/ external relations team as teacher-inresidence.
Ray then made the move to St Columba’s High in Fife, where he was principal teacher in biology (20002004), before becoming depute head at St Modan’s in 2004 and starting his long association with the school, fulfilling a long-held ambition.
On his return to Scotland after teaching overseas, he and his family settled in Alloa. It was there where
Ray expressed a desire to work at St Modan’s after seeing and meeting pupils from the school in his local community. All his three children – Abigail, Rebecca and Sam – also attended St Modan’s.
After amassing 34 years in the teaching profession, Ray is looking forward to spending more time with his family and to go travelling with his wife, Tina, who retired at the same time as headteacher of St Francis Xavier’s PS in Falkirk.