Some teachers you never forget. And over the weekend, to mark International Women's Day, tweets about inspirational female teachers poured into @TES from grateful former students and current colleagues around the world.

"The women within education who give their all each day and then go home for their next shift, whatever that may be. Huge respect!" said a proud @MrsAWBlack.

Other tender messages were shared, including one that tugged at the heartstrings from a teacher called @DistrictMrsC. "My Reception teacher," she remembered. "I called her mummy because she made us feel loved in that special way like a mum does."

And @DistrictMrsC wasn't the only person who was profoundly influenced by an early encounter with the teaching profession. @chrishildrew, a deputy headteacher in Bristol, said: "Mrs Chamberlain, my Year 5 teacher, helped me believe that with hard work I could learn anything."

Of course, inspirational women can be found throughout the education system. New College Leicester reminded the Twittersphere that children look up to non-teachers, too. "Our school is FULL of inspirational women - staff and volunteers - who aim high and never give up," they said.

Will Martin

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