Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
MBE for retired teacher
Gong for ex-head in the Queen’s birthday honours
An inspirational retired Coatbridge head teacher has received recognition for her selfless service to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Ellen Douglas heavily influenced both teachers and pupils at St Ambrose High since joining the school as principal teacher of geography in 1986.
She was appointed depute head teacher in 1991, and rose through the ranks to become acting senior depute head, senior depute, and finally taking up the post of head teacher in 2007.
Ellen, 64, from Hamilton, attended St Cuthbert’s Primary in Burnbank and Holy Cross High School her home town.
After leaving school, she studied education at Glasgow University, and began her illustrious teaching career in Our Lady’s High School in Motherwell in 1979.
She remained there until May 1986, then took up her appointment as principal teacher of geography at St Ambrose High School.
Ellen has dedicated her life to education for more than 40 years, and since then she has taught generations of youngsters and helped shape young lives across Lanarkshire, until she finally retired in October last year.
She was delighted to receive her MBE and said: “It’s an absolute honour and a privilege.
“But it reflects all the hard work and creativity of so many people I have worked with and the families that I have got to know. It has been an absolute joy to work with teenagers.
“St Ambrose has been the love of my life.”
On a more poignant note, Ellen is saddened that her parents are no longer here to see her accept her honour.
She said: “I wish that my mum and dad could have been here; they would have been so, so proud.”
However, Ellen’s siblings Mary and Daniel, who both live in Hamilton, and George and John, who stay in the north east of England, are all delighted with their sister’s incredible achievements.
“This honour I have accepted is for so many people,” Ellen insisted.