Kerryann Wilson, from Whitehaven, who is vice-principal at Energy Coast UTC, won the gold trophy for Teacher Of The Year in a secondary school category, from The Pearson National Teaching Awards, after being nominated by two colleagues – her previous manager Ian Russell and Hope Redmond.
Kerryann said: “I’m still super excited and am certainly the very proud winner of the award for 2020.”
The announcement of the result was made live on BBC One’s The One show on November 24.
Kerryann said she was surprised to win the award. She said: “I totally wasn’t expecting it, they had gone in to the primary school of the previous winner, and no one had been in to see me, so I wasn’t expecting it, they kept it a surprise.”
The process and interviews were done remotely this year and Kerryann was quizzed on her reasons for teaching and what led to her career choice.
Ms Wilson is no stranger to awards, winning the Golden Apple in 2018 and she was nominated for the Tes award, but it is for satisfaction, not the acclaim that she does her job. She enjoys seeing her students excel. She said: “I’m passionate about our local community and I feel like I’ve got the best job anybody could have, seeing young people achieving things they never thought they would. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of.”
The awards had to be done differently this year, Kerryann said the awards are traditionally celebrated in London, but it meant the surprise was able to be kept right up until the announcement. She said that Pearson also sent her flowers and she will receive a gold plaque.
She said: “It is a real privilege and honour to be this year’s recipient of The Pearson National Teaching GOLD award for ‘Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School’. I feel incredibly lucky to have received this prestigious award, but even more so that I’ve been recognised for doing something that I love.”
Kerryann’s colleagues were delighted for her and couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of the accolade. They decorated her office in balloons and banners to celebrate the news.
Ms Wilson has worked at Energy Coast UTC for five years, she started her new role as vice principal in September. Prior to this she was a line manager in English and maths and was head of English.
