This autumn, primary teacher and EIS West Lothian member Mairi Green has been nominated as a candidate for Scottish Union Learning’s Learner of the Year Award.

The EIS Education Committee selected Mairi to be nominated at its October 2020 meeting, noting that Mairi has this year combined her own professional development with trade union activism to meet the challenges of teaching during COVID-19. This has included Mairi leading collaborative learning in her school on digital skills to support recovery during the pandemic, and shaping digital skills development at the local authority level through her work with newly qualified teachers and EIS Reps.

The Scottish Union Learning Learner of the Year Award is presented annually to a trade union member who has engaged with union learning in a way which is transformational for themselves and colleagues. The Award recognises the vital role of union-led professional learning in building equity, opportunity and worker voice across Scotland in all sectors.

Mairi has been active in professional learning in recent years, volunteering as a Learning Representative for West Lothian Local Association and becoming a My PL Ambassador within the local authority. Extending her learning on digital skills, Mairi has started actively disseminating this training through the union via other EIS Learning Reps. Mairi has also engaged with her local authority to shape digital skills provision beyond her own school, and will now represent the EIS on the National E-Learning Board.

Most recently, this year Mairi has begun to extend her learning with practitioner enquiry which explores effective support for newly qualified teachers. This project has been enabled by an EIS Action Research Grant, and will build on Mairi’s activity networking NQTs across West Lothian to understand their needs and development opportunities.

Responding to her nomination, Mairi said “I feel so honoured to be nominated for the SUL Learner of the Year Award. I have always had a passion for professional learning and how I can help others through my EIS Learning Rep role and within my school and local authority. I have been incredibly supported by my family, colleagues, local authority and union which has enabled me to engage in many valuable professional learning opportunities that have allowed me to pursue my goals.”

Following the Committee’s nomination, EIS Education Committee Convenor Susan Quinn, said, “The Education Committee is delighted to nominate Mairi for this award, in recognition of her hard work as a learner and as an activist. Mairi has effectively demonstrated the EIS vision for professional learning. Developing her skills and knowledge as a teacher has also empowered her as a union activist and a leader of learning. We wish Mairi luck in the awards and hope Scottish Union Learning recognises her engagement as a union learner and contribution to the learning of her colleagues.”