Ballysally Primary Principal Geoff ‘humbled’ by MBE

Shane McCurdy, NEELB chief executive, who visited Ballysally Primary School last Friday is pictured with Geoff Dunn, principal. CR21-229PL

Mr Dunn, originally from Cookstown, has been at Ballysally for the past 16 years.

The 38-year-old said he is ‘honoured but humbled’ to have been given the honour.

When the father of four first received the letter telling him of his MBE, he first thought it was a speeding ticket, he joked: “My wife set the envelop on my desk in school and to be honest I thought I had been caught speeding, it really did take me by surprise.”

Geoff paid tribute to the staff and people he has worked with at Ballysally down through the years: “We really do have a community ethos at Ballysally. Over the years we have been working hard to get the community involved with the school.

“We have a very successful projects running with parents, it is all about getting families involved in the school life.

“I have worked with so many great people, the Board of Governors and the teachers, things are so much easier when you have a good team around you and they know what way you want things to go. I have staff that go the extra mile.”

Geoff thanked those who had congratulated him on his MBE and added: “I know there will be a great buzz about the school for the next few weeks.”