The Education Department, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Poli Suárez, has announced the names of the educators and educational institutions awarded with the distinctions Viera y Clavijo 2023, the highest recognition given by this department to teaching work within non-university education in the Archipelago.
The institutional event to present the awards will take place on May 24th at the Casa de la Cultura in the town of Los Realejos, Tenerife.
The distinctions Viera and Clavijo recognise teachers who have stood out for their exemplary dedication, exceptional personal trajectory, and achievements in participation, equity, and quality in the educational system of the islands, as well as educational institutions that have excelled in innovation, good practices, and projects related to Canary content.
In this edition, ten nominations have been selected, corresponding to seven educators, distributed among three different categories, and three educational institutions. The recipients of the Viera y Clavijo distinctions for their educational work are the principal of the Cairasco de Figueroa Secondary School (IES) in Gran Canaria, Cristina Blanco Sánchez; the director of the Integrated Centre for Vocational Training (CIFP) Virgen de Candelaria, in Tenerife, Julián Fariña Rodríguez and the teacher and technician at the Directorate General for the Organization of Education, Inclusion, and Innovation of the Government of Canary Islands, Pedro Rodríguez Rodríguez, who recently retired.
For their exceptional professional trajectory and performance as educators, recognition has also been given to María Isabel Pérez González, who taught for almost four decades at the IES Bañaderos-Cipriano Acosta (Gran Canaria), until her retirement at the end of the 2022/23 academic year, and Pascual Molina Barreto, posthumously, who worked at the IES Doctor Antonio González González (Tenerife).
Also, recognised for their outstanding contribution to educational objectives are Manuel García Déniz and Rafael Curbelo Armas, a teacher and inspector respectively on the island of Lanzarote, both retired. As for the distinguished schools in the 2023 edition for their merits in innovation, good practices, and projects related to Canary content, CEIP Puntagorda (La Palma) and Gran Canaria, on the island of the same name, and IES La Laboral in La Laguna (Tenerife) have been awarded.
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CEIP Gran Canaria
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Comprising 420 students, CEIP Gran Canaria, located in the capital of the island, has several innovative projects, including its Solidarity Day project [in the image above]which originated in 2010 with the objective of raising financial or material resources for a cause or non-profit organisation, such as the Spanish Commission for Refugee Assistance, Doctors of the World, the Vicente Ferrer Association, or Pequeno Valiente. Over the course of these twelve editions, they have raised funds exceeding 72,000 Euros and 22,600 kilos of food for various solidarity purposes.
Another outstanding aspect of this Gran Canaria school is the importance it places on fostering relationships with families and their involvement with the school.
Furthermore, CEIP Gran Canaria is committed to developing the linguistic competence of its students, enhancing new technologies, and maintaining high academic success rates.
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