Head of Community Hub, Mr Paul Murray, takes centre stage with prestigious Special Award for Raising Aspirations
Established to mark the vital contribution that teaching staff make to not only their school but the local community, the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards is now in its 21st year and recognises the expertise and dedication that create the hallmark of an outstanding teacher.
In a year where the education sector has felt the strain more than ever before, with teachers under immeasurable pressure to educate, inspire, motivate, and even feed their students, recognition of those who go the extra mile seemed to have a special significance this year and brings to light the work of the academy's very own community superstar, Mr Paul Murray.
Working deeply within our local community, past-teacher and now Head of Community Hub, Mr Paul Murray collected the county-wide ‘Special Award for Raising Aspirations’ at the ceremony on Friday. Paul’s story is a unique one to tell as he has taught a plethora of subjects in schools on the island since starting his teaching career in 1975, and has been a part of the Oasis family since our academy opened in 2009.
Paul’s contribution to the students he works with and the community he serves is almost too great to categorise. His weeks consist of attending community meetings. many of which he sits on the board for, pitching for funds from local councils for community projects like the Sheppey Support Bus, and independently delivering food parcels to 170 families in need all over the island, a task he took on full-time during the lockdown of 2020. Humble as ever, Paul told us he accepts his award “on behalf of our exceptional students at the academy, who work hard to overcome the many challenges they face and who regularly give up their spare time to volunteer and help local people in their community.”
Paul was also keen to share the glory as he wanted to recognise, “the support of my wife Mag, who despite now being retired is still committed to ensuring our students and local community have every opportunity the deserve, and the staff at Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey who work incredibly hard every day.”
We are so pleased to see your incredible efforts recognised on this scale Mr Murray, you go above and beyond every day for the people you work with, and you have made a positive difference to the lives of many of our students and their families. Thank you.