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Watch the awards night
and hear from some of those there.

The best and brightest teachers from across
the county gathered to celebrate their achievements at the seventh
Kent Teacher of the Year awards.

It was the biggest ceremony to date, with 100
proud finalists attending the event at Howfield Manor in Chartham
Hatch.

The awards were organised by the KM Group with
backing from several sponsors, and Kent residents were asked to
nominate the county’s top teachers, through KM Group newspapers,
Kentonline websites, kmfm radio stations and school
newsletters.

The public responded in record numbers, with a
total of 300 nominations collated for the judging panel, made up of
sponsors and leading educators, to decide between.

Categories included teaching assistant, newly
qualified teacher, primary, scondary, science teacher and head
teacher.

Philip Karnavas from Canterbury High School
won the Kent Head Teacher of the Year award.

He said: “It is completely unexpected and very
flattering to have won.

“I think head teachers really need to praise
the people who work at the school and the award really belongs to
the teaching staff and the non teaching staff, the parents,
governing body and most particularly the children.

“The teaching profession is vital and teachers
across the country do a very good job.

“It is nice to be recognised and rewarded and
a pat on the back is always appreciated.”

Sarah Hohler, KCC cabinet member for children,
familes and education said: “Teachers are incredibly important for
all our children and our future as well.

“It is a really pleasure to be able to
celebrate their achievments and the more support and backing we can
give to teachers the better.”

KM Group Chairman Geraldine Allinson also
attended ceremony.

She said: “It is a complete honour to
recognize what these fantastic people do.

“I was in awe of the stories that came from
some of the people that had nominated these teachers and the
glowing comments as to their reasoning behind the nominations.

“They came in from all sorts of people across
the county, which is fantastic.

“Teaching is an unsung profession and that is
why is it so good to be able to recognize people who do their job
so brilliantly.

“In every nook and cranny of Kent we are very
lucky to have these very special people teaching our children.”

The evening’s sponsors
were:

Canterbury Christ Church University

Denne Construction

Kent County Council

Hays Education

Pfizer

Howfield Manor Hotel

Independent Music Productions

Overall winners of the night
were:

Rebecca Huckle, Canterbury
High School - Teaching assistant of the Year award

Rachel Taylor, Godinton
Primary School, Ashford - Newly qualified Teacher of the Year

Lynda Gauthier, Brook
Community Primary School, Ashford - Primary School Teacher of the
Year

Gavin Mills, Tenterden’s
Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre - Secondary School Teacher of
the Year

Ian Wesson, Invicta Grammar
School, Maidstone - Science Teacher of the Year

John Mathews retired from
Chatham House Grammar School, Ramsgate - Lifetime
Contribution

Philip Karnavas, Canterbury
High School - Kent Head Teacher of the Year