Education HQ Australia announced the recipients of their 2016 "Unsung Heroes Award" today: It is with great joy and pride to confirm that our College Principal Mr Andrew Houghton has been named "Unsung Hero" in the Leader category.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
Leader – Andrew Houghton from Al Siraat College in Victoria.
Teacher – Jessica Williams from Atwell College in Western Australia.
Technology – Matthew Rigby from Braemar College in Victoria.
Support – Michelle Dirksz from Rockingham Senior High School in Western Australia.
A heartfelt Thank You to all of the parents, students and College staff who rallied around Mr Houghton, showing enormous support. Overall, more than 7,000 votes were cast for the nominees in the four categories above.
You can read the winning entry for Mr Houghton below:
LEADER: ANDREW HOUGHTON – AL SIRAAT COLLEGE
"I've never seen a principal so loved by the students of their school. I always see swarms of students hugging Mr Houghton and him attentively listening to them. He'll stand at the school gates and greet the students as they enter school. Children can sense his compassion and respond to him with the same respect he gives them.
Mr Houghton isn't recognised enough for the differences he’s made to our school community. He has pioneered a movement to include inquiry learning from foundation level and has ensured teachers at our school have their skills updated with the best teaching methods offered by Harvard University completing two units; Visual Learning and Visual Thinking. It’s changed the way students grasp each learning unit in a profound and positive way.
I appreciate his contributions immensely as a parent from the school community. I believe his innovative and proactive approach to his position, his compassion and respect with which he approaches his students and staff and his overall integrity makes me wish other schools were as fortunate as us. He’s truly an asset to our community and deserves recognition for his daily contributions in raising citizens of tomorrow that uphold the same wholesome values and virtues as he does.
I can't say enough nice things about Mr. Houghton, God bless him."