A lecturer at South Eastern Regional College has been named the Further Education Teacher of the Year.
Newtownards based Lizzie Buick won the Pearson Teaching Award and now goes forward for the UK FE Teacher of the Year this autumn.
The awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers and teaching, founded in 1999 by Lord Puttnam, recognising the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach.
Lizzie, an Early Years lecturer was nominated for her award by a group of grateful students, making it is obvious that her dedication inspires all around her to achieve their very bestAn
Said Lizzie:“I am truly overwhelmed to have won this prestigious award. I couldn’t have achieved it without the support of my lecturers and I would also like to thank my students for voting for me. I wasn’t expecting to win at all.”
Teaching awards judges were extremely impressed said in her citation that Lizzie was ‘a truly worthy winner of this prestigious award’.
Another SERC lecturer, Alpana Sharma, was awarded a Distinction by the prestigious Pearson Teaching Awards.
Ken Webb, principal and chief executive at SERC said: “We are delighted for Lizzie and Alpana and are very proud of their achievement. The FE sector in Northern Ireland plays a huge role in helping everyone in the community and supporting economic growth through skills development. Lizzie and Alpana are great examples of the quality of teaching within the sector.”
Lizzie will now join fellow winners from across England and Wales at the UK final of the Teaching Awards on October 20, filmed in London and broadcast by the BBC.
Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK said: “We want to recognise and support inspirational teachers, for their commitment to teaching and learning and improving the life chances of the next generation. It’s really important that we create opportunities to say thank you.”