A JUDGING panel has announced the finalists for the 2004 Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

From the 200 plus entries, the judges have chosen four regional finalists from each of five areas across the county.

The finalists have been invited, along with their head teachers, to the awards ceremony on Monday, December 6, at County Hall, Maidstone.

At the ceremony, an overall Kent Teacher of the Year and a regional Teacher of the Year for each of the five regions will be announced.

Guests at the event will include Kent's Chief Constable, Mike Fuller, who launched the awards in June, and Edwin Boorman, chairman of the Kent Messenger Group. The event overall is organised by the KM Group.

REGIONAL FINALISTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

West Kent (sponsors Cripps Harries Hall Solicitors, Tunbridge Wells): Mrs Valerie Brown, Staplehurst Primary School); Mrs Janet Cooke, St Gregory’s Comprehensive, Tunbridge Wells; Mr G Gledall, Valley Park Community School, Maidstone; Mr Garry Hollingsbee, Senacre Technical College, Maidstone.

East Kent (sponsors Kent County Council): Mrs Angie Conroy, Shelwich Primary School; Mrs Jane Freeman, Sturry CEP School; Mrs Julia Kennett, Stelling Minnis Primary School; Mrs Caroline McDonald, Garlinge Infant School, Margate.

South Kent: (sponsors Saga Group): Mrs S Garrett, The Powells School, Dover; Mr John Hall, Norton Knatchbull School, Ashford; Mr Mike Phillipson, Archers Court School, Whitfield, Dover; Mrs Chris Scarisbrick, Christ Church High School, Kingsnorth, Ashford.

North Kent (sponsors Lloyds TSB Business Banking): Mrs Linda Bourne, Rainham Mark Grammar School; Mrs Nicoline Higham, Glencoe Junior School, Chatham; Mrs Susan Marsh, St George’s Middle School, Minster, Sheppey; Miss Hayley Pitts, Teynham Parochial C of E Primary School, Teynham.

North-West (sponsors Bexley Education Business Partnership): Miss Tracey Binns, Riverview Junior School, Gravesend; Mrs Hannah Fomes, Painters Ash Primary School, Northfleet; Ms Anne Stuart, Gravesend Grammar School for Girls; Ms Lee Whitehurst, Northfleet School for Girls.