Gasps of shock followed by tears of joy and laughter.

That was the emotional rollercoaster that nominees went through when they attended this year’s Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2008.

More than 200 teachers from across Kent and Medway were put forward for an award by pupils, staff and parents because they inspire children or go beyond the call of duty.

It led to an impressive haul being put before a panel of judges but in the end they managed to whittle the entries down to 26 area winners and eight overall winners for Kent.

Guest speaker Dr David Starkey, the distinguished academic and TV historian, paid tribute to the teachers and the work they do before the awards ceremony commenced at Priestfield , Gillingham, on Wednesday night.

He told the audience : “It’s often said that behind a great man is a great woman but behind every man, woman and child is a great teacher.”

There were lots of amazing tales of inspiring teaching and devotion to duty. Among them was Aimee Banks, who won the overall secondary school teacher of the year title, although she has only been a teacher at Chatham Grammar School for Boys for three years and head of maths faculty for a year.

Mrs Banks was praised for giving up her lunch break to hold maths clinics, once a week she teaches pupils maths an hour before school starts and she also supervises peer mentoring sessions.

Each winner was presented with a framed certificate by Dr Starkey and representatives of the competition’s sponsors.

Area winners also received £50, teaching assistants and newly qualified teachers £100 and the overall winners received £200.

The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2008 were organised by the KM Group and sponsored by Christ Church University, Hays Education, Pfizer and Denne Construction.

Winners of the main county awards were were:

Head teacher - Alasdair Hogarth, Archbishop’s School, Canterbury

Secondary teacher - Aimee Banks, Chatham Grammar School for Boys

Primary teacher - Catherine Newcombe, St Nicholas Primary School, New Romney

Science Teacher, East Kent - Andy Scott, St George’s School, Sheppey.

Science Teacher West Kent - Gautam Ramessar, Beths Grammar School, Bexley.

Newly Qualified Teacher - Lucy Hardy, Ospringe Primary School, Faversham.

Secondary Teaching Assistant - Sally Childs, Canterbury High School.

Primary Teaching Assistant - Beverely Garratt, Luton Junior School, Chatham.