Crossgates Primary's Jemma Thomas is teacher of the year

Jemma is the Young Carers Champion for her school community. Over the last three years, and during the pandemic, she has created a sector leading support programme for Young Carers.

This programme includes working with Fife Young Carers, upskilling staff within her school, creating a Young Carers Club and finding funding opportunities so that Young Carers can attend school residentials and extracurricular clubs free of charge. Through her hard work, Crossgates Primary became the first primary school in Fife to achieve the ‘Recognising We Care Award’ which she was presented with at Queen Margaret University in March.

A delighted Jemma Thomas with awards night host Bryan Burnett. (Image: Jim Payne)

She is also now sharing her work with other schools in the hope that they can also create a programme so that Young Carers are supported across Fife.

Her nominee said Miss Thomas went "above and beyond" to support the most vulnerable learners during the hardest times of Covid and the cost of living crisis.

READ MORE: Winners of the Dunfermline Press Community Champion Awards 2023

They added: "This commitment shines through in everything she does. The fact that she is also now mentoring other schools so they can do the same is testament to her hard work and dedication.

"We would love to see her hard work and commitment recognised."

Jemma was stunned to receive the award.

Teacher of the Year Jemma Thomas, of Crossgates Primary School. (Image: Jim Payne)

"It means a huge amount," she said. "It is lovely to be nominated but you never think you are going to win. It is something I was just doing.

"When you start doing it, you realise how much need there is for carers to be supported, especially during covid – they were not getting support. It was up to us as the adults to give all the support we could."

You can read more about all our winners on the Dunfermline Press website over the next few days and in this Thursday's paper.