The reigning teacher of the year believes everyone in education is a "hero" ahead of the return of the Worcestershire Education Awards.

Anna-Marie Rooney was the winner of the illustrious Teacher/Lecturer of the Year at the 2019 Worcestershire Education Awards, and the prize will no doubt be hotly contested once again, with the winner announced early next year.

Last week we launched the Worcestershire Education Awards 2022 across all of our local titles and websites – Worcester News, Malvern Gazette, Evesham Journal, Bromsgrove & Droitwich Advertiser, Kidderminster Shuttle and Redditch Advertiser.

Once again we are honoured to have teamed up with the University of Worcester to launch the award scheme, which is now in its fourth year

Mrs Rooney, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is looking forward to the awards once again but says it is impossible to highlight any one teacher deserving of recognition.

She said: “I don't envy the person or people selecting the winners as everyone who works in education are heroes in my eyes!

“As teachers and leaders, we do not expect praise or reward. We do it for the love of the children we work with.”

Mrs Rooney added that this year’s awards will be extra special given the difficulty schools and teachers faced during the pandemic.

She said: “The last couple of years have been a whirlwind to say the least.

“Teaching in ways in which we never would have thought we could has been challenging but ultimately the children have been amazing. The support from their families has been wonderful too.

“I don't think children have received enough credit for their resilience and the ways in which they have dealt with the upheaval to their educational journey so far.”

There will be two awards dedicated to Star Students at this year’s awards as well as a brand-new Lockdown Hero Award.

Mrs Rooney recalls the moment she found out she had been nominated.

She said: “I thought the office were winding me up!

“I had heard of the awards through the local newspaper but never in a million years thought someone like me would be nominated.

“I received a phone call from the Worcester News confirming it and felt extremely proud and honoured.”

On the awards night itself she added: “It was a wonderful evening hearing stories of inspirational people working within the education field.

“When my category was announced I remember it passing in a bit of a blur. Being announced as the winner was a feeling that it difficult to describe.

“I will never forget the cheers and the smiles on the faces of my colleagues, I genuinely couldn't believe I had won.”

For details on how to enter the awards click here 

If you are or your business or organisation is interested in sponsoring an award please  contact dale.godliman@newsquest.co.uk