VOTES are pouring in for the SNJ’s Teacher of the Year competition and this week the paper is profiling its last three teachers out of the seven finalists.

Pupils, parents, staff and residents across the area put forward teachers for the award, to celebrate their skill and dedication in one of the most demanding professions.

Our finalists are now asking the general public to vote for them as the overall winner, with a prize of a trophy presented by Stroud MP Neil Carmichael and a meal-for-two at the SNJ’s Pub of the Year award winner – The Falcon Steakhouse in Wotton.

Voting is open until Friday, June 3, and nomination forms already received will count as votes.

The finalists are:

  • Lynne Davies at Slimbridge Primary School
  • Kerry Tonner at Minchinhampton Primary Academy
  • Sue Tabb at Leonard Stanley Primary School
  • Laura Barwell at Bussage Primary School
  • Fiona Radway at Gastrells Primary School
  • Dawn Hebron at Stroud Valley Primary School
  • Paul Beech at Amberley Primary School

This week the SNJ spoke to Fiona Radway, Dawn Hebron and Paul Beech.

Fiona recently presented a talk at a government-funded event in Birmingham about the special educational support she provides students at Gastrells.

When she started her career as a theatrical costume maker for the BBC Fiona never thought she’d be invited to speak at The Mental Health Services and Schools Link Pilots event, as part of a pioneering initiative to improve the collaboration between schools and mental health professionals.

She’s been teaching for 18 years now and the job took her to Spain, Devon, and the Forest of Dean before she found herself in Stroud.

Her role involves intervening when she can see that pupils are feeling discouraged, leading groups to give students extra support and working with teaching assistants.

Fiona was nominated anonymously. Her mystery fan wrote: “Fiona is our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator.

“She always allows all children to access the curriculum making each individual feel special and allowing them to be the best they can be.”

Commenting on what makes her do the job Fiona said: “I think it’s just every now and again a child will come to me and just smile and I just know that whatever it is they’ve just understood it.

“The light bulb moment, it’s so lovely.”

For Paul at Amberley Primary School the lightbulb moment is also the one he lives for - working around 85 hours every week.

“My philosophy is that every child needs challenging and every child needs support,” he said.

“I am keen for the pupils to be challenging themselves against their own records rather than against each other.

“There is no other job in the world you can have so many children feel proud of what they’ve done in so many different things every day.

“The moment that a child gets it, that lightbulb moment, it is priceless.”

Pupils in Mr Beech’s classes can choose how far they want to challenge themselves with ‘hot’, ‘spicy’ and ‘mild’ activities.

And when he’s not in the classroom Paul is busy organising trips, leading a survival day at the Grange in Tuffley, where pupils learned about making fires and shelters in the outdoor playground.

In the 32 years Dawn, of Stroud Valley Primary School, has been teaching she has also been lured abroad to Hong Kong.

A former Archway School student, she moved back to Stroud 20 years ago and although she’s taught all age groups she now teaches year three pupils.

Student Roisin McQuail who nominated her wrote on her slip: “She is always there when you need help.

“As well as that, she doesn’t let her dull teaching life get in the way of her having fun.

“She is also wonderful at telling people off in a nice, funny kind of way.

“I think she should be Teacher of the Year.”

There’s never an average day for a teacher and for Dawn that is what she loves so much about the role.

“You’re never bored and you’re never not challenged, there’s always something you can do better.

“I think you realise how very complex children are and how your job is not just about teaching them, it’s about giving them the life skills they need to become a good grown-up.”

Her philosophy has clearly had a positive effect. One ex-student even wrote her a letter to her to tell her that in a class assignment she and her peers had had to write about a teacher who they remembered. She chose Dawn.

Next week the paper will profile all seven teachers nominated for the award as a final call for voters to submit their entries so watch this space.

SNJ editor Michael Purton said the focus of the competition was “to highlight the outstanding work of teachers in our area”.

Teacher of the Year is supported by Gloucestershire County Council and Stroud MP Neil Carmichael.

Cllr Paul McLain, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Teaching really is one the most important jobs there is and deserves to be recognised and celebrated.”

Mr Carmichael added: “The Teacher of the Year award is a fantastic way to celebrate a teacher’s achievements.”

  • To vote for Teacher of the Year fill in the form below and return it to Stroud News & Journal, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, GL5 1BE.

The deadline is Friday, June 3. The winner will be announced the following week.

Photocopied voting slips will not be counted.