Do you know an inspirational colleague who deserves recognition for their work? The 2009 Inspirational Teacher Awards will reward excellent heads, teachers and support staff for making schools better places.

TES Cymru is proud to be the lead sponsor of the fifth New Directions Education awards ceremony, a black tie bash at Cardiff’s Mercure Holland House Hotel on June 19.

This year, it will be hosted by BBC Wales presenters Jason Mohammad and Claire Summers, with broadcaster and former head Roy Noble as guest speaker.

All teachers, governors, support staff, parents and pupils can nominate staff they feel have excelled.

New Directions wants as many nominations as possible to make this the biggest event yet. Entries are welcome from across Wales, and the organisers particularly want more involvement from the north. They will shortly be opening a Wrexham office.

Last year, Rhoda Williams, head of catering and textiles at Willows High School in Cardiff, won the Inspirational Secondary Teacher award for inspiring pupils to cook.

Mal Davies, the head who nominated her, said: “The award for Rhoda Williams was a true refection of her outstanding contribution to many generations of pupils who have passed through our school.”

Howard Burge, of New Directions, said the awards were about recognising success at all levels: “The nomination process allows pupils, fellow colleagues and the public to highlight and share special achievements and success stories within the education sector. It allows education staff to feel proud of such achievements and celebrate it together.”

The charity Help a South Wales Child also supports the awards.