12:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Manisha Mistry
THE popular headteacher of a St Albans school is the first to be crowned in the Review's search for the unsung heroes of 2010.
For Alan Gray of Sandringham School winning a Community Gold Award is not the first trophy he is proud to receive. His successes also include being named the East of England's headteacher of the year in 2009.
The scheme is run in conjunction with solicitors Debenhams Ottaway in a bid to highlight people within the community who go that extra mile.
Mr Gray, who took up his post at the school in The Ridgeway five years ago, was nominated by a parent of a pupil at the school.
Speaking about his achievement a modest Mr Gray told the Review: “I think like all the headteachers I work with we are here to do the job and serve the community.
“For me it's my job but I think everybody is aware that teaching is a vocation as well as a profession. We really have to believe in the young people and you get a lot out of it when you see them succeed and flourish.”
Last year Mr Gray was highly praised for his sensitive approach to the sudden and tragic deaths of two of his pupils Georgia Sharman and Elliot Simms.
He has also been instrumental in supporting other schools taking on a temporary leadership role as well as looking after the needs of his own school.
Mr Gray added: “It's really nice to get the award.”
The Community Gold Award scheme runs throughout 2010.
The aim is to give recognition to individuals or groups in the St Albans district who make a positive contribution to society and make a real difference to community life.
Maybe it is a carer, a nurse, a teacher, a council worker, a Scout, a Guide, a caring child or a volunteer. If they have touched your heart, chances are they will touch ours too.
You can enter by emailing your hero’s name and any relevant contact details to revieweditor@london.newsquest.co.uk catchlining your email hero.
You can also enter by text or by phone.
Send your text to 80360. Start your text with the word hero, leave a space and then enter the name and contact details of your unsung hero. Please also include your name and a contact number so we can get in touch with you in the event we are unable to contact your nominated person.
To nominate by phone, simply call 09012 210048 and leave the details of your unsung hero when prompted.
Calls cost no more than 25p per call from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Telephone and text voting lines open 08/02/2010 and close 15/12/2010 at 23:59PM. For full terms visit http://www.newsquest.co.uk/terms. Service Provided by Newsquest Media Group.
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