COMMUNITY STARS: Goring teacher is 'best ever'

A TEACHER described as "awesome", "the best teacher ever" and "truly exceptional" has been nominated in the Herald and Gazette series Community Stars Awards.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Aug 2010, 17:46 GMT
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:03 GMT

Orchards Middle School teacher Jamie Parkinson, 25, head of year four, has been nominated in the best teacher category by pupil Lily Mansfield, nine, of Chesterfield Road, Goring.

Lily said: "He is absolutely awesome and always has time for everyone, both in and out of the classroom."

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The year-four pupil described her teacher as always giving every child "100,000 per cent" support.

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Lily's mum, Melanie, called Mr Parkinson "inspirational".

Confidence

She said: "My daughter has gained so much confidence. He has brought out the very best in her through singing club and through mentoring her in the school's arts festival.

"Not many teachers give of their time like Mr Parkinson does. He is truly exceptional and needs to be rewarded for his hard work."

Lily has been diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes and has lost her peripheral vision. Melanie said Mr Parkinson had supported Lily at school after she had returned from eye operations on six different occasions.

Singing

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She added: "Lily wakes up every day, excited to go to school because of Mr Parkinson, or 'Mr P', as the pupils call him. She said when she moves schools and when she is older, she will never forget him."

Mr Parkinson runs a singing club on a Thursday afternoon which now has a waiting list to join because it has become so popular.

The teacher said: "It is so overwhelming to be nominated and described as best teacher. I am honoured. I would do my job even if I didn't get paid.

"It's lovely working with this age group, because you see the children grow from youngsters to gaining confidence and then becoming receptive to what adults have to say."

Who is your community star?

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Make sure your hero gets the chance to shine by nominating them for a Community Stars award.

Find out a list of award categories by clicking here, and send in one of the nomination forms published regularly in the Herald/Gazette series.

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