Here are the three nominations for Teacher of the Year as our countdown continues to next week's Examiner Community Awards.

The winner will be revealed at the glittering awards night at the John Smith’s Stadium on Wednesday, June 3.

Stafflex, Huddersfield’s leading independent recruitment company, is delighted once again to sponsor the award for Teacher of the Year.

It said: "We have nothing but admiration for the skill and commitment prevalent throughout education in Kirklees and consider ourselves privileged to be able to deal positively with such consummate professionals on a daily basis."

Here are the award nominees:

Sallie Lumb

Sallie Lumb of Paddock Junior School.
Sallie Lumb of Paddock Junior School.

Inclusivity is Sallie Lumb’s passion.

After four years as deputy head she has just been appointed as headteacher of Paddock Junior, Infant and Nursery School where children speak an amazing 26 languages.

Many of the pupils are from South Asia and Eastern Europe and there are a number of Arabic speakers as well children from other countries across the globe.

Ofsted recently visited the Heaton Road school and described it as “an exceptionally harmonious community where all pupils are respected and valued.”

They upgraded it from Requires Improvement to Good.

Sally, along with headteacher Richard Dodd who recently left, were singled out for praise. And inspectors rated children’s behaviour and safety as Outstanding – an accolade of which she and her staff are incredibly proud.

Sallie describes the 409-pupil school as “one big happy family.”

She said: “Paddock School is very nurturing and very caring. We are a true community school with excellent relationships with parents and the community.

“We have parents and other members of the community who come into school to share their language and other skills on a voluntary basis.

“Everybody is encouraged to speak English. We had one 10-year-old girl from Poland who started in September without a word of English and she is fluent now, mostly learned from her peers.

“We strongly promote British values as well as celebrating all of our different cultures together. Paddock is like the world in microcosm, we are one family and the children really get it. My passion is inclusivity and everybody is equal.”

Paddock uses its pupil premium to give youngsters opportunities they would not normally have, such as a trips to France, Edinburgh and the Houses of Parliament. It is twinned with St John’s at Golcar and the youngsters enjoy exchange visits.

Sallie, 35, added: “I am honoured and proud to be nominated, and I accept it on behalf of the whole school. It is a real team effort.”

Elaine Watson

Scissett school teacher Elaine Watson.
Scissett school teacher Elaine Watson.

Since arriving at Scissett Elaine Watson has achieved what many headteachers can only dream of – a trio of Ofsted Outstanding ratings.

Despite increasingly stringent criteria the 174-pupil Scissett CofE (Voluntary Aided) First School has achieved top marks in its last three Ofsted inspections.

In April 2014 inspectors said: “Pupils’ make outstanding progress ... behaviour in lessons and around the school is exemplary. Pupils enjoy being at school, teaching is outstanding and the headteacher is an exceptional leader.”

Elaine became headteacher 12 years ago and since then has improved her and her colleagues’ skills so they now also help other schools all over Kirklees.

She is a National Leader of Education, a School Improvement Partner and additional Ofsted inspector. Scissett has become a National Support School, a National Teaching School and a founder of the Yorkshire Anglican Teaching Alliance.

She and her team are committed not only to achieving the best for the children of Scissett, but also to help other schools move towards excellence.

But Elaine refuses to take the credit, insisting that she is blessed with an exceptional team of 34 staff right across the school from teachers to teaching assistants, caretakers, kitchen and cleaning staff.

She said: “We have a very special team here. Our Christian ethos is hugely important and has a massive impact – there is a lot of warmth in our school community.

When asked what she brought to the school, Elaine said: “A relentless drive for every child to succeed, regardless of abilities and difficulties, for every child to be the best they can be. There are no ceilings on attainment and the children make me proud every day.

“We have had children arrive from other schools where it hasn’t worked out and to see them settle in here is very rewarding. The families we have in school are wonderful, they bring joy.

Scissett’s business manager Terry France added: “Elaine brings an unbridled enthusiasm into school. She never gives up on a child.”

Pat Thompson

Pat Thompson, headteacher at Lindley Junior School
Pat Thompson, headteacher at Lindley Junior School

The name Pat Thompson is synonymous with excellence in Huddersfield education circles.

Despite her best efforts to avoid the limelight, her reputation has spread far and wide.

Pat was born in Fartown and has dedicated her life to teaching in Huddersfield. She started out at Wooldale, then Deighton and Rawthorpe before taking on the role of headteacher at Lindley Junior School 27 years ago.

In 2008, Lindley was rated as outstanding and is today one of the most popular and oversubscribed schools in Kirklees.

Such is Ofsted’s confidence in the school and its leader that they haven’t been back since – but continue to monitor from afar.

Under Pat’s quiet stewardship, Lindley has gone from being a traditional school to one with a string of accolades, where learning is dynamic and exciting.

As well as placing emphasis on academic excellence, Pat has always been keen to enrich other aspects of children’s lives.

Music is the heartbeat of the school and its young choir is one of the nation’s most successful. Drama, dance, sport and innovation are also highly valued, as can be seen from the bulging trophy cabinet.

It’s not only pupils of all abilities who thrive, Pat thoroughly enjoys helping teaching colleagues to develop and is “thrilled” when they progress to lead other schools.

In typically modest fashion, she said: “I love the job I do and working in this community with such talented colleagues who have such energy, commitment, passion and skill.”

She describes the school’s ethos as ‘I can, ’ adding: “As well as the academic culture, we help our children to develop resilience, perseverance, teamwork, questioning and a desire to find answers.

“It is about creating a culture for both staff and pupils where the goal is always excellence.”

Pat is due to retire this summer and as well as spending time with her family, gardening and travelling, she hopes to bring her considerable talents to school consultancy work and community volunteering.

Coming tomorrow: nominees for the Arts Award.