THE Kent Messenger Group has launched the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2007.

Readers are asked to nominate the teacher they feel deserves special recognition for their outstanding efforts.

Nominations are open to any qualified teacher in the county who is teaching children from years R to 13. This year, the awards will be split into two categories: Primary (years R to six) and Senior (years seven to 13).

In Kent, 16,000 teachers work at 610 primary, secondary and special schools.

A panel of judges will select a winner for each category in each of the 15 local authority areas in the county. They are Ashford, Bexley, Bromley, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells.

The overall Kent Teacher of the Year will be selected from the 30 local winners. All the winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Ashford International Hotel on Tuesday, July 17.

Special awards will also be made to the Science Teacher of the Year and to Kent’s top head teacher.

This is the fifth year that the Kent Messenger Group has run the awards. Pupils, colleagues, friends and family can nominate by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. The closing date for nominations is Thursday, May 24.

Keith Abbott, director of finance and corporate service at KCC, said it was a privilege for the authority to help lead the search for the county’s top educators.

James Graham, external relations manager at Pfizer, which is sponsoring the general awards and the science teacher of the year award, said: "Recognising the hard work and dedication of those in the teaching profession is tremendously important in all subject fields, but particularly the sciences.

"Pfizer’s aim is to help trumpet the value of science to the workplace and wider community, and Kent’s teaching professionals play a vital role in enthusing the next generation of scientists and innovators."

Helen Rose, partnership co-ordinator, Faculty of Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, said: "Canterbury Christ Church University welcomes the opportunity once again to support the Kent Teacher of the Year Award.

KM Group community and charity projects manager Simon Dolby said: "We’re extremely pleased to have the support of our sponsors Denne, KCC, Pfizer and Christ Church University.

"There are thousands of hard working teachers across the region and these awards are a way of saying thank you to them for the terrific job they do."

For information on the awards contact Simon Dolby or Jane True at the Kent Messenger Group's community and charity team at 01227 475966.

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