Teacher’s award for work ‘that changed lives’
ADISABLED teenager emailed his dad for the first time and another listened to his favourite music on YouTube thanks to their teacher who helped pupils use a computerised voice system through tiny movements of the body.
Lisa Rees-Renshaw, from Ysgol y Deri in Penarth, has now won an award for her work and been nominated for a further national award.
The special needs teacher specialises in developing the use of eye-gaze and switch technology with pupils who are unable to speak.
She has been told by her classes that her work has been “life-changing”.
One 16-year-old with muscular dystrophy is now sending emails for the first time, a 19-year-old goes on YouTube to listen to his favourite rap music unaided, and another teenager was delighted to be able to go online independently to look at cars.
The method Lisa developed allows her pupils to control a computerised voice system through subtle movements.
Yesterday she was awarded a silver Pearson Teaching Award in the Outstanding Use of Technology in Education category.
The accolade, supported by Google, was presented to her by Vale of Glamorgan Council leader John Thomas on Thank a Teacher Day at a ceremony at the school.
The 39-year-old mother of two, who has spent her career as a special needs teacher, is one of just 56 people to win a silver award from thousands of nominees and will attend a celebratory tea at the House of Commons next month.
Lisa, who teaches pupils aged three to 19, now goes on to the UK final of the Pearson Teaching Awards in London on October 22, where she stands a chance of being one of 11 gold award-winners.
After first being suggested by a pupil and his mother, Lisa was officially nominated by Ysgol Y Deri deputy head Josie McAllister.
Judges visited the school to meet pupils, staff, and parents before making their decision.
Lisa said she loves her job so much she does not consider it work.
“If you find a job you love you never have to go to work. I do this because I enjoy it.
“It’s great to see the children and teenagers now doing something that they couldn’t otherwise do.
“For the first time we had a teenager with muscular dystrophy able to email. He asked me: ‘Will I be able to email my dad?’ And he has. He can email his dad by looking at the screen.
“When he first did it he kept looking at the screen and asking, ‘Has it really sent?’
“We have pupils accessing the internet and going online who could not do that before.
“It has opened up the world and education for them. We have a group who could not read or write and now they can access the internet using software and equipment.
“Even if they can’t read and write they can hear and use visual symbols to access what they want. This has happened in the last 18 months.”
The dedicated teacher said it was “an honour” to win and be nominated for awards but she saw it as a reflection of the work and commitment of all staff at the school.
“To hear pupils tell you the technology they have access to is ‘life-changing’ has been the biggest reward,” she said.