AFTER a career dedicated to children, County Durham teacher Thomas Baker has been shortlisted for a national lifetime achievement award.
Thomas, 55, was nominated by colleagues at Chester-le-Street's Red Rose Primary School after 34 years sterling service in the profession.
Already awarded the Lloyds TSB Lifetime Achievement for the North-East, he has gone on to the national final at the end of the month, where he will be up against 11 other regional winners.
Thomas, who has also taught at Kibblesworth and Pelton Roseberry Primary Schools, reflected on the different teaching challenges over the years.
He said: "Over the years there have been massive changes, but one thing has stayed the same. The children are still the most important people."
On the Teaching Awards 2000 ceremony in London on October 29, he said: "I never dreamt that I would make it all the way through to the national final.
"Now I have made it, I am really looking forward to it with a mixture of both excitement and nerves."
The overall winner will be announced at the ceremony in the Millennium Dome, and televised on BBC1.
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