Commitment to teaching recognised

Integrity, leadership, boldness of vision and exceptional zeal.

These are just a few of the qualities possessed by one of Morrinsville College’s deputy principals Scott Jenkins.

Commitment to his craft and dedication to molding young minds has resulted in the head of the social sciences department being recognised with a prestigious Woolf Fisher Fellowship.

Jenkins, was presented with a Woolf Fisher Fellowship by representative Nigel Evans.

Morrinsville College has only had one other Woolf Fisher fellow when C J Stonyer received the Fellowship in 1996.

The late Sir Woolf Fisher was a passionate supporter of education in New Zealand.

In 1960 he founded the Woolf Fisher Trust for the advancement of scientific and general education in New Zealand through its prestigious fellowships and scholarships.

The Trust has always sought to uphold the guiding principles and values of its founder.

Woolf Fisher Fellowships, provide overseas study and travel for outstanding secondary school principals and teachers, polytechnic senior managers and, most recently, primary and intermediate school principals.

To date, nearly 1100 fellowships have been awarded.

The trustees hope that recipients of Woolf Fisher Fellowships and Scholarships will demonstrate some of the qualities which Sir Woolf himself embodied over a long and success- ful career as an industrial pioneer and leader including keenness and capacity for work.

Jenkins, who still teaches two history classes which he describes as his fun times, said he was absolutely stoked to receive the fellowship, but he wanted to emphasise that it was a team effort.

‘‘All of us are passionate about teaching, this is a reflection of the sense of team work that exists at the college,’’ Jenkins said.

Jenkins plans to go to the United States for three weeks to conduct research to see how schools over there are doing things, but beforehand wants to visit a number of schools around New Zealand.

When he returns he aims to complete a mini thesis as part of a Master of Education Leadership.