PUPILS, staff and parents at Arrochar Primary School said a fond farewell to their head teacher when the summer term ended on Wednesday.
Alison Palmer has been teaching at the village school for 28 years – the last 16 of them as ‘heidie’ – but she has now left to take up a new job with the EIS teaching union, with whom she has been closely involved throughout her teaching career.
Alison joined the staff at Arrochar as a class teacher in 1993, moving from a post in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow.
She has also worked at Garelochhead Primary and at John Logie Baird Primary in Helensburgh, as well as teaching PE at Colgrain Primary, before being appointed as Arrochar’s head teacher in 2005.
Alison was nominated as a finalist in the Head Teacher of the Year awards in 2012, and led the school through the best inspection report any Argyll and Bute school has ever had.
Alison said: “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to have taught and led Arrochar Primary School.
"I have worked with so many talented, inspirational members of staff. The pupils, parents and community are amazing and I will miss them all very much, but I feel the time is right for a new challenge.
“I have been overwhelmed by the gifts and good wishes I’ve received since I announced I was moving on.”
Her new role with the EIS comes after she held the posts of delegate, treasurer and local and national president with Scotland’s biggest teaching union, who made her their Degree Fellow in 2019 for her outstanding contribution to education.
Tributes were led by local Argyll and Bute councillor, and Arrochar resident, Iain Shonny Paterson, who said: “Alison leaving Arrochar Primary is a huge loss to the community.
“Alison is one of the finest teachers I have met. I’ve known her for more than 10 years and have always found her to be totally committed to her pupils, her staff and the parents whose children use the school.
“As a councillor I’ve been at several meetings where Alison attended as the EIS representative, and she was always vocal on behalf of staff, pupils and union members, holding the council – and anyone else who merited it – to account.
“She is also a kind human being who has done a lot for her pupils and their families behind the scenes when they needed a bit of extra help – and doing it without recognition, because that is the way Alison works.
READ MORE: Head teacher Alison is given degree award by Scotland's biggest teaching union
“As a parent I thank her for what she did for my children, providing a safe, secure and wonderful environment that enabled them to grow and develop into confident young people.”
Argyll and Bute’s policy lead for education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said: “Alison has been an outstanding head teacher – she is hugely respected and very much treasured by the community.
“She contributes hugely to the community services committee as a trade union rep and I’m looking forward to working closely with her in her new role.”
Alison has also worked closely with the Generation Communities group in Arrochar, set up to build links between the area’s youngest and oldest residents.
Fiona Paterson from Generation Communities said: “We would like to thank Mrs Palmer for all her help and support.
“One of our members, Betty Barr, said that Mrs Palmer has brought the school to the community, allowing us all to be involved which is really lovely.
“Although due to restrictions, we have not been able to yet meet up again within the school, we have found other ways of keeping all generations in touch with the help of Mrs Palmer and the wonderful Arrochar Primary School pupils.
"Alison has been a strong, dedicated, caring, teacher and head teacher of Arrochar Primary for many years. She has supported so many children and their families, and involved the school in the community which is so important.
"As a thank you for her efforts, school pupils and older members of the group made two short films which were presented to Alison last week.
"We shall all miss her very much. We wish her well and thank her again for everything."
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