AN inspirational York teacher who was struck by a virus in her teens which made it difficult for her to walk has scooped a top award.

Wednesday, 7 May 2025 15:25

By Haydn Lewis

Cheryl Alexander, a chemistry teacher at York High School has won an award at The Educators’ Trust Awards 2025, in recognition of her outstanding teaching and advocacy work for students facing any kind of adversity.

Cheryl, who has Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, has used a wheelchair since the age of 18, when the virus attacked her nervous system and left her barely able to walk.

She received the Master Educator’s Award for Outstanding School Leadership at an awards evening at The Merchant Taylors Hall on April 25, in the presence of guest speaker, Baroness Floella Benjamin.

Cheryl said: “I am really honoured to have received this award and it’s even more special that it’s in recognition of the work I do in a job I love and causes I feel very passionate about. I want every child and young person to have a ‘village’ to surround them, particularly those facing adversity. I am collecting the award on behalf of my own village and would like to thank all the people who have supported me on my journey. If I can help and support others to find their village and fill any gaps in their lives, I will.

“It was wonderful to hear the other winners’ stories and from Baroness Benjamin who spoke with vigour to remind us all of our importance as educators.”

The overarching aim of The Educators’ Trust is ‘to promote the development of the profession of educator’ which is done through awarding prizes, bursaries and grants to outstanding individual educators for innovation and excellence in professional practice.
Award winners can come from any level of education, any subject area and any setting in which learning takes place.

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