The Scottish Mathematical Council Achievement Award was conceived in 2016. It is presented to someone who has been involved in mathematics education in Scotland for a significant length of time, and who has made a major contribution to the learning and teaching of mathematics in that time. The 2022 recipient is Sheona Goodall. Sheona taught maths in Fife secondary schools for several years and was Principal Teacher of Mathematics at both Viewforth and Glenrothes High Schools where she was (and still is) a strong advocate for the development of problem-solving capabilities and higher order thinking. Her use of well-constructed questions that provoke metacognition has been commended by HMIe. Sheona’s passion for mathematics learning and teaching, commitment to making maths accessible to all and high level of professionalism soon led to her appointment as Fife Council’s Numeracy Development Officer and, later, Probation Induction Manager. Then, in 2017, she moved to the University of Dundee where she provided strong leadership and support to both staff and students. Now retired, she continues to tutor secondary maths pupils.

The award was presented in February, and a short tribute was paid to Sheona at the SMC Virtual Conference in March. In her usual, humble style Sheona replied, I think I would like to meet the person you have just been speaking about, Carol! Seriously, many thanks for those very kind words. I am most grateful to the SMC for presenting me with this award. I really have had the most interesting and enjoyable career. To be recognised with an award feels a bit strange if I’m being honest. It is a most lovely kind of strange though: a real honour.

Sheona went on to talk about the inspirational pupils, ITE students and colleagues she had worked with over the years and ended with this message to all delegates, “Keep striving to make a difference. However you do this, have a go. It will be worth it.”

The Scottish Mathematical Council is delighted that in Sheona Goodall it has found such a worthy recipient, a true example to those who teach mathematics whether at primary, secondary or tertiary level.