WATCHET teacher Jackie Heywood has been recognised as among the best in the profession after scooping the regional title in a national award scheme honouring the stars of education.
Jackie, reception teacher at Knights Templar First School, was named as the West of England Primary School Teacher of the Year in a ceremony in Bath on Tuesday.
And for the 56-year-old mother of three - one of whom is also a teacher - the accolade was a complete surprise.
"I was absolutely overwhelmed, totally surprised when I realised that I had won - in fact, I felt quite sick," she told the Free Press.
Jackie took along her husband, daughter and new Knights Templar headteacher Heather Good to the 2009 BT Teaching Awards ceremony in Bath's Assembly Rooms on Monday, where she was one of 12 winners.
Cheered on by a 250-strong audience, she was presented with a plato - the Teaching Awards' symbol of excellence in education.
She will now go on to join other champions from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland at the UK final in October.
"I'm just so lucky to do a job that I love and even after all these years, I still get a buzz out of it," said Jackie.
"I've been given an award for something I love doing. At the end of the day, being there for the children is what it is all about."
Teaching Awards chief executive Caroline Evans said all the winners deserved every bit of praise and applause.
"They are real heroes among their colleagues, pupils and parents and now the wider world knows what a difference they make.
"Hundreds of outstanding people in the West of England have been thanked for the excellent job they do, day in, day out.
"I am really looking forward to meeting the class of 2009 at the UK event this autumn."
Jackie has taught in Watchet for the last 21 years, including at the former St Decuman's First School.
She has been a teacher since 1971.
Photo: Steve Guscott