Queen's birthday honour for Buckie teacher

A Moray teacher who has dedicated most of her career to children with addition support needs has been honoured by the Queen.

Sharon Aitken has been made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

She has been involved with ASN pupils in Buckie for the past 27 years.

A former primary teacher, she began working in ASN during a one-year secondment to Buckie High School in 1990 and stayed until 1996 after the post was made permanent.

Sharon then helped set up the ASN enhanced provision at nearby Millbank Primary School where she remained until being appointed principal teacher of ASN back at Buckie High seven years ago.

Married with two daughters, she said she was “totally overwhelmed” at the honour.

She heads up a five-strong team at the high school and feels that her colleagues deserve the recognition as much as she does.

“I am part of a team and I would not be able to do my job without their support,” said Sharon.

“This honour is as much for them and the young people and their families that I have worked with over the years as it is for me.”

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.