Pride of Guernsey: Paula Sullivan and Melissa Lowin

PAULA SULLIVAN and Melissa Lowin have been jointly nominated for this year’s Pride of Guernsey Teacher of The Year Award.

Nominator Helen O’Hara said: ‘Mrs Sullivan is headmistress of Forest and Le Rondin primary schools. Our son Fletch is in Reception at Forest and has Down syndrome – Mrs Sullivan has been so supportive of our choice to send him there.’

Mrs O’Hara felt the head teacher could not have done anything more to help out with the family’s decision to send Fletch there.

Mrs Lowin is Fletch’s Reception teacher.

‘She has been so very supportive, it’s so lovely to see Fletch thrive in every way thanks to her help,’ the nominator said.

‘Because the teachers make sure he is included in every way, Fletch’s confidence has grown and Mrs Lowin has learnt sign language to help communicate if things get hard.’

She said the two teachers have been amazing over the last year and have helped, along with his friends, to make his first year at school amazing.

‘I couldn’t just pick one teacher because I think they work wonderfully as a team – they really deserve this award.’