Inspirational lecturer wins prestigious national teaching award

Coleg Gwent lecturer, Alexis Dabee-Saltmarsh, has been awarded a Silver Award for Further Education Lecturer of the Year in the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Selected from thousands of nominees, the win highlights the remarkable impact that Alexis has on shaping the lives of the young people in her care.

Alexis is one of 102 deserving teachers, lecturers, leaders, support staff and institutions named as silver winners in this year’s awards. They will now be in the running for the coveted Gold Award, which will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony later in the year.

As a lecturer in Automotive and Aeronautical Engineering, with a diploma in special education, Alexis has been recognised for providing unparalleled support to those with diverse learning needs, whilst also integrating advanced technologies like CAD/CAM and 3D printing into the curriculum — to develop a rich learning experience across the college.

Despite managing a long-term illness, the dedicated lecturer also promotes STEM education for girls and encourages women to pursue engineering careers — collaborating with organisations like CREATE Education and the Women’s Affinity Group to enhance learning environments with technologies like VR.

Alexis said: “My inspiration to pursue a career in teaching at Coleg Gwent stems from a longstanding passion for design & technology, and engineering, which has captivated me since my school days.

“I have always enjoyed hands-on experiences and find immense satisfaction in helping others, enabling me to quickly build a good rapport with learners.

“What I find most fulfilling about my role within the college is witnessing learners learn new skills and push their boundaries beyond their perceived limits to achieve the highest outcomes possible. Additionally, as their lecturer, seeing them progress onto higher education, apprenticeships, or jobs is profoundly encouraging, as it reflects their hard work and the collective efforts of the college staff in preparing them for successful futures.

“I am deeply honoured to have been nominated for the Pearson FE Lecturer of the Year Award, especially being National Thank a Teacher Day, and I’m delighted to have received the Silver Award. After a challenging year, this recognition from students and colleagues comes at a perfect time and reaffirms the importance of teaching.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards are run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity established over 25 years ago to celebrate the transformative impact of education while shining a spotlight on the pivotal roles that teachers, support staff, colleges, schools and early years educators play in inspiring young people.

Nicola Gamlin, Deputy Principal at Coleg Gwent said: “Alexis truly epitomises unwavering dedication to each learner at the college, by actively seeking opportunities to support learners with diverse needs. It’s through this dedication and passion for teaching that she continues to inspire and empower learners to excel and pursue their dreams for a fulfilling future career.

“We’re incredibly proud of Alexis and couldn’t be happier that her achievements and efforts are being recognised through this award — llongyfarchiadau, Alex.”