THE executive head teacher of Teesdale School has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
Dr Janice Gorlach led the team which turned the fortunes of the school around when it became part of the North East Learning Trust (NELT) in 2016.
Dr Gorlach, who is also the deputy chief executive officer of the trust, said she was “honoured and amazed” to receive the award.
She added: “I cannot quite believe it. Every child is special and unique, full of promise and potential and there is no greater vocation than to help to nurture that potential through an excellent education.
“I have had this wonderful privilege through my career. I myself have learned from the best for which I am deeply grateful.”
A physicist by background and an IBM systems engineer in her early career, Dr Gorlach began teaching maths in 1996.
She joined NELT in 2015 and has played a pivotal role in the successful growth of the trust, helping to improve the educational opportunities for many children and young people.
Under the trust’s management, Teesdale School has gone from requiring improvement to being rated outstanding by Ofsted inspectors.
A NELT spokesperson said: “The award marks Janice’s services to education and recognises the profoundly positive impact her work has had on many thousands of children across the region.
“As a national leader of education, Janice is recognised as an exceptional teaching talent whose skills transform underperforming schools and the life chances and opportunities of those children within them.”
Trust chief executive officer Lesley Powell added: “Janice has gone above and beyond to ensure that the schools she supports reach their full potential and is truly deserving of this honour.
“Janice has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children and she plays an important role in the success of our trust.
“Her skills and expertise as a teacher are second to none, but it is her belief that every child has their own unique talents, and her ability to ensure that each succeeds, that is her unique strength.
“On behalf of the entire staff and student population of the North East Learning Trust, we would like to wish Janice a huge congratulations and a big thank you for everything she does for us all.”
