Member Article

Northern Irish educator nominated for national award

A leading Northern Irish education expert has been nominated for a national award following her dedication to the deaf community.

Celia O’Hagan is a coordinator for teacher education and government sign language projects in Northern Ireland. She recently managed a half-a-million pound project leading to the first 15 sign language tutors qualifying and progressing to the teaching profession.

The recently qualified professionals are now influential members of deaf agencies in Northern Ireland, working to drive change and advance services for deaf needs throughout the community.

The work and dedication from Celia has led to a nomination by leading deaf and deafblind charity Signature for its Leadership in Education Award. Celia, who is 44 and has worked in education for 21 years, said: “It is an honour to be nominated for this award, and I am very much looking forward to the ceremony in London this month.

“I was absolutely delighted to be nominated by staff and students who felt I had offered extra support on this unique and influential project.

“My journey is not yet complete and I thoroughly enjoy working with the teaching community to advance the learning experience and to improve opportunities and awareness for the deaf community.”

Celia, who lives in Ulster, went to school in Magherafelt, going on to attend the local FE college, moving on to Ulster University, where she gained a degree in communication and marketing. She then went on to qualify as a university teacher and FE lecturer, and in the following year Celia earned her Master’s Degree in Expert Teaching with distinction.

Celia went on to work with a range of projects and disciplines to promote widening participation in Higher Education and soon became a lead teacher educator for Ulster in the province’s FE and training sector, which currently supports sign language teaching in Northern Ireland.

Signature is a deaf and deafblind charity and the leading provider of British Sign Language (BSL) and other deaf and deafblind qualifications in the UK. The charity recently launched its search for the country’s most inspirational people involved in the deaf and deafblind community.

The Signature Annual Awards celebrates people across the UK who are involved in providing a positive impact on the lives of some of the 11 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the country.

Signature executive director Lindsay Foster said: “We are impressed every year by the amazing stories that are uncovered through our awards and it gives us great pleasure in being able to celebrate the great work that is being done to promote and improve deaf communication across the UK.

“This year, the Signature Annual Awards will focus on ‘educators’, including new and experienced teachers of British Sign Language. We will also celebrate teachers of the deaf, groups or individuals in the local community who create exciting learning opportunities for deaf and hearing impaired people, and business people who are improving customer service for deaf and deafblind people through staff training.

“Celia fits this category perfectly thanks to her dedication to helping to influence change in the way Northern Ireland approaches signing and communication for the deaf community. We wish her and the other nominees the best of luck in their respective categories.”

All nominees received a complimentary ticket to the awards, which will be held January 27 2017 at Prospero House in London.

To find out more information pm Signature and its annual awards please visit www.signatureannualawards.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Signature .