A PORTLAND teacher has been selected for a global academy.

The teacher, who works at the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy, is to join the Google Teacher Academy.

Melissa Heppell, who teaches a superclass of 90 children at IPACA’s Osprey Quay Campus, said she was ‘honoured’ to be chosen.

Miss Heppell is the second teacher at the academy to have been selected for the unique opportunity, which will see her presented with Google Certified Teacher Status.

The programme was launched in 2006 and has held academies across the USA, UK and Australia, and there are now more than 800 Google Certified Teachers worldwide.

Miss Heppell is looking forward to attending the two-day intensive programme that recognises teachers who are doing innovative and exciting things in their classrooms with technology.

She said: “I cannot wait to connect with like-minded educators who share my school’s passion for seeing digital technology transform learning.”

Academy Director of Digital Learning and Innovation, Gary Spracklen said: “For any schools to have a Google Certified Teacher in its ranks is a significant achievement. To have two represents IPACA’s position as a world-leader in the use of digital technology to support learning.

“The transformation we are seeing through the appropriate use of technology to engage, innovate and inspire learning is incredibly exciting and I am so pleased Miss Heppell will have the chance to share this with a global audience at the Google Teacher Academy while continuing to develop her skills.”