COLLEAGUES of Dunster First School’s early years teacher Louise Collins have been celebrating her winning a National Teacher of the Year award.

Louise came out top in the Smart Clinic award after a judging panel assessed nominations against a set of criteria that included the care and support the winner offered their colleagues, the focus of wellbeing in the workplace, and their attitude towards positively developing their school.

“I was very flattered, humbled and embarrassed,” said Louise. “I’m part of the Dunster team – unless I worked with the people I do, we couldn’t achieve what we do.”

Colleagues told the assessors that Louise, who teaches the reception class, was “one in a million” who “always has a smile for all her children and colleagues”.

Read her story in tomorrow’s Free Press.