MYLEENE Klass understands the importance of shining a spotlight on outstanding teachers and saying thank you to them. The former Gorleston girl believes teachers have the power to release every child's potential and deserve to be recognised.

MYLEENE Klass understands the importance of shining a spotlight on outstanding teachers and saying thank you to them.

The former Gorleston girl believes teachers have the power to release every child's potential and deserve to be recognised.

And she's supporting this year's Teaching Awards which aim to highlight the good work of teachers.

Myleene, who last year presented the 2008 UK ceremony alongside Jeremy Vine at the London Palladium, said: “It's fantastic that the Teaching Awards celebrates not just individual winners but the profession as a whole.”

Most people know a teacher who has really inspired them, so why not show how grateful you are and nominate them for a Teaching Award at www.teachingawards.com . Anyone can nominate whether you are a pupil, parent, colleague or friend.

Teachers, headteachers, school governors and teaching assistants can be nominated.

Founded by Lord Puttnam CBE in 1998, the Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of teaching and learning with a UK final televised on BBC2 every October.

Oscar-winning actress and writer Emma Thompson is the new president of the Teaching Awards Trust. She said: “I am genuinely proud and honoured to take on this new role as president of the Teaching Awards. I owe so much of what I've done to my fantastic teachers at school and at university.

“It is very difficult to imagine how any of us would develop into happy, confident, fulfilled citizens without good teachers. But for them, all the other professions would pretty much cease to exist.”

To nominate your teacher visit www.teachingawards.com , the deadline for nominations is March 1.