ENGLISH teacher Karen Sims of Solihull Academy has been named as a Silver Award winner in the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
Karen was selected from thousands of nominations to be one of just 102 silver award winners across the country in tribute to her outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children she works with every day.
In their citation Pearson said: “Karen is a highly-effective English teacher who teaches with compassion and passion and her calm demeanour and inclusive practice enables the pupils to challenge themselves.
“She is well-organised and supportive to her team without being intimidating, and understands almost instinctively which route and qualification is best for each student’s needs and aspirations.
Passion and compassion: Top teacher Karen Sims.
“Her subject knowledge and passion for English is second to no one and she communicates this to colleagues and children alike.”
She has now been shortlisted to win one of just 15 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme which will be broadcast on the BBC.
The Silver Award winners are being honoured as part of the wider celebrations for ‘Thank a Teacher Day’, a national campaign to recognise school staff for their work.
The celebrations follow new data which shows how the previous year’s lockdowns have significantly changed how families across the country view the role of teachers.
Stephen Steinhaus, principal at Solihull Academy in Shirley said: “We are over the moon for Karen …she is so deserving of this award and has worked so hard with her team to make such a significant difference for and with our students, especially in terms of their life chances and positive, aspirational destinations!”
