Leading teacher takes touchstone award

A LONG-time teacher at St Patrick’s College has been recognised with an Edmund Rice Education Australia Charter Leadership Award for Gospel Spirituality.

The school’s year 7 coordinator Margaret Dodd was presented with the award during an event in Melbourne late last month, and said she was humbled by the acknowledgement.

“I felt very honoured to be presented with this award from the EREA and to share a meal with those people where I was being congratulated,” she said.

“I also feel extremely humbled that my colleagues took the time to nominate me for this award.”

Having taught in the region for four decades, Ms Dodd has been at St Pat’s for 11 years.

She’s taken pride in knowing each of her students by name and said a highlight is in seeing them grow from junior to senior year levels and beyond.

“I’ve had the joy of knowing kids in the womb to when they’ve left St Pat’s and still seeing them out and about. Lots of boys in year 12 now, I taught their father,” she said.

“Not many people have that joy and I feel very lucky and blessed to be in that position.

“The boys love it too. Straight away they’ve got a connection, and they think, ‘oh that’s good, I know Mrs Dodd and Mrs Dodd knows me.’ It’s very special.”

Ms Dodd’s accolade marks the second consecutive year a St Pat’s staff member has received an EREA award, with year 8 pastoral care teacher and faith in action domain leader Michael Weadon acknowledged with the Touchstone of Justice and Solidarity category.

St Pat’s is one of 55 Catholic schools steeped in the Edmund Rice tradition, with the awards introduced in 2015.