Meet our August Wonder winner...

This month we're celebrating an invaluable teaching technician at the Centre for Teacher Education (CTE), whose Warwick Wonder Award recognises how he continuously goes above and beyond to support teaching staff.

Want to say well done? Log in to congratulate our winning colleague in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Darren Storey, Centre for Teacher Education

"I feel as though this award has been designed especially for Darren Storey. As a team, we would be lost without him."

Darren sets up complex science investigations, troubleshoots technical issues and provides insightful guidance for the team. He understands the unique challenges the teaching staff face and works tirelessly to alleviate their burdens so that they can focus on delivering the best education to trainees.

Given his teaching background, Darren approaches his work in a creative and inspiring way, thinking outside the box and offering helpful suggestions about how to best resource sessions. He never backs away from a challenge and always brings a patient, problem-solving attitude when dealing with requests.

"How he single-handedly manages to support so many of us, as individuals as well as a collective of tutors is unfathomable at times."

Wow Transcript

Stuart: Hello everyone. It's time again for another one of our Wonders winners and here today we are in the new Eatwise cafe at Westwood, newly refurbished, looking really exciting. We're just gonna go over the way to the Centre for Teacher Education for today's winner Darren Storey.

It's a moment of Wows and Wonders. Some people have done a fantastic job of nominating Darren for an award for the amazing work. And I'm going to take out my phone and read some words from the citation because I know you're gonna really hate this. Really, really, really hate this. What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna drag it out as long as I, as long as I possibly can.

Darren: That's what I'd do if I was you.

Stuart: I won't read the whole thing, but includes these words, dedication and expertise. Nothing short of amazing, whether it's setting up complex scientific investigations, troubleshooting technical issues, or providing insightful guidance. Darren is the backbone of our team, and I think that's pretty wonderful actually. That's pretty wonderful. You don't get that too often. He's never phased by a challenge and is incredibly patient, even when the resource requests by some of our practical sessions are quite unusual.

By tradition, we have the certificate to say it really is you and you really have won. First piece, please. Thank you so much. You are going to be photographed to death in a moment. More importantly than even a certificate is the star because that's what you are. You are a star. I think a round of applause for the star, don't you?

Stuart commented as he presented the award:

"Darren's colleagues told me he is the backbone of the team, and I think that's pretty wonderful actually. You don't get that too often."

The CTE team told us:

"Darren is quite simply an outstanding and invaluable member of the team here at CTE. Teaching anything would be impossible without him. He is always there, super organised and absolutely willing to go the extra mile for our courses so that our teachers are inspired."

"Whilst thoroughly prepared and great at pre-empting issues, Darren is always there in a crisis and will help in any way he can. We simply could not wish for a more incredible colleague than Darren!"
"I don’t know what we’d do without Darren. He really is an unsung hero and a significant, valued member of our team."

Share your support for the winners in the comments below!

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